NEW YORK, NY – A Mexican navy sailing ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday night, resulting in injuries to crew members and significant damage to the vessel. The incident occurred as the Cuauhtemoc, a three-masted sailing ship, was preparing to depart New York City for a goodwill tour of Iceland.
The collision, captured on numerous eyewitness videos, showed the Cuauhtemoc approaching the bridge at a seemingly high rate of speed near the Brooklyn side of the East River. The impact caused all three masts to snap sequentially, yet the ship continued moving after the collision. The ship, flying a large Mexican flag and carrying 277 people, then drifted toward nearby piers.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams reported that at least 19 individuals required medical attention following the incident, with four sustaining serious injuries. Remarkably, the 142-year-old Brooklyn Bridge escaped major structural damage.
Eyewitnesses Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz described seeing a crew member dangling from the ship’s rigging for approximately 15 minutes before rescue crews arrived. Katz stated, “We saw someone dangling, and we were able to zoom in on our phone and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for at least 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them.”
Another eyewitness, Nick Corso, 23, recounted capturing the ship and bridge at sunset on his phone just before the collision. He described hearing a loud snapping sound, followed by several more, likened to the breaking of a “big twig.”
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. The incident has raised concerns about navigation safety in the East River and the condition of the Cuauhtemoc prior to its departure. The extent of the damage to the ship and the full details surrounding the injuries to the crew are still being assessed.
