Mexican Navy Ship Brooklyn Bridge Crash: What Happened

A routine farewell from New York harbor turned catastrophic on the evening of May 17, 2025. The ARM Cuauhtémoc, Mexico’s iconic training tall ship, had spent five days docked at Manhattan’s South Street Seaport, drawing visitors with its towering masts and naval heritage. Minutes after casting off, all three masts struck the Brooklyn Bridge from below, killing two sailors and injuring 19 others aboard a vessel carrying 277 crew and cadets. Officials now say the ship lost propulsion as it reversed toward the East River channel, leaving a tugsboat unable to prevent the collision.

Date: May 17, 2025 ·
Ship: Cuauhtémoc ·
Casualties: 2 dead, 19 injured ·
Location: Brooklyn Bridge, New York City ·
Operator: Mexican Navy

Key facts about the collision are drawn from the NTSB preliminary report and corroborated by multiple news sources covering the incident.

Why did a Mexican Navy ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge?

Preliminary NTSB findings

The National Transportation Safety Board opened investigation case DCA25MM039 the day after the collision, declaring the incident a major marine casualty under US law due to the loss of life and damage value. According to the NTSB’s official documentation, the Cuauhtémoc had departed Pier 17 in Manhattan and was navigating the East River when the upper sections of all three masts contacted the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge starting at 20:24:42 EDT. The vessel was traveling astern at approximately 5.9 knots at the moment of impact. Following the initial bridge contact, the ship’s stern struck a seawall on the Brooklyn side of the river.

NYPD Chief Wilson Aramboles stated that the Cuauhtémoc lost power, forcing the vessel toward the bridge pillar. New York City Mayor Eric Adams also reported a power loss on the ship. The NTSB preliminary report notes the vessel initially moved astern at 2.5 knots, increasing to 5.1 knots by 20:23 — a speed profile investigators are examining alongside wind, tide, and maneuvering data.

Ship maneuvers during departure

A tugboat was present during the departure but could not prevent the collision, according to Safety4Sea’s analysis of the NTSB interim report. Eyewitness videos captured the ship traveling swiftly in reverse toward the bridge, with dramatic footage showing masts breaking and debris falling onto the deck. The masts struck in sequence: mizzen mast first, followed by the main mast, then the foremast — each contact adding to the catastrophic chain of events.

What happened to the Mexican ship that hit the bridge?

Crash sequence

The incident occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. local time as the Cuauhtémoc departed Pier 17 after completing a five-day public viewing at the South Street Seaport Museum. Dramatic eyewitness videos showed the ship traveling swiftly in reverse toward the Brooklyn Bridge, with sailors visibly struggling to respond as the vessel drifted beyond control. The collision caused the upper sections of all three masts to snap, sending debris cascading onto the deck below.

The two fatalities were sailors who fell from a mast during the collapse. According to The Times, the victims were identified as America Yamilet Sanchez, age 20, and Adal Jair Marcos, age 23. Post-crash videos showed people hanging from the remaining mast sections, suspended high above the deck by their safety harnesses.

Immediate aftermath

Emergency responders arrived around 20:30, with the New York City Fire Department receiving a call at 8:39 p.m. and deploying over 100 personnel to the scene. Injured crew members were transported to hospitals across the city. The Cuauhtémoc came to rest around 20:27, deployed anchors by 20:28, and was subsequently towed to Pier 36 in Manhattan later that evening.

The collision transformed a ceremonial departure into a mass casualty event in under two minutes for the 277 crew and cadets aboard, with the catastrophic collapse of all three masts marking the moment the celebration turned tragic.

Why were the Mexican sailors standing on the masts?

Manning the yards tradition

The sailors seen high in the rigging were performing what naval traditions call “manning the yards” — a ceremonial practice where crew members climb the masts and stand at various positions along the yards (the horizontal spars extending from the masts) as a salute during departure and arrival. This tradition dates back centuries in sailing navies and remains a formal part of many naval ceremonies worldwide. On the Cuauhtémoc, such ceremonies are especially significant given its role as Mexico’s primary sailing training vessel.

Sailors were seen dangling from harnesses high in the air after the masts snapped, their positions at the very top of the rigging making them particularly vulnerable when the structural failure occurred. The victims fell from these extreme heights as the upper mast sections collapsed.

Position at time of crash

Because the Cuauhtémoc was traveling astern (in reverse) at approximately 5.9 knots when it struck the bridge, the masts — which extend upward from the bow and would normally clear a bridge first — passed under the Brooklyn Bridge in reverse order. The tallest structures on the ship thus contacted the bridge deck from behind, trapping crew members who had been positioned along the yards at the moment of impact.

What is the Cuauhtémoc and its role in Mexican Navy?

Ship specifications

The ARM Cuauhtémoc BE 01 is approximately 297 feet long and 40 feet wide, making it one of the largest sailing vessels in the world. The ship first sailed in 1982 and serves as the Mexican Navy’s premier training ship, providing sea experience for naval cadets while also representing Mexico in international port visits as a goodwill ambassador. The vessel is equipped with traditional square rigging on three masts, allowing it to operate under sail, though it also has motor propulsion for maneuvering in port.

According to EMS1, the Cuauhtémoc departed Acapulco, Mexico, on April 6, 2025, beginning a 254-day scheduled cruise with 22 port calls across 15 countries. The ship had arrived in New York City on May 13, 2025, for what was meant to be a brief stop before continuing its global tour.

Training vessel purpose

As Mexico’s primary sailing training vessel, the Cuauhtémoc provides naval cadets with hands-on experience in traditional seamanship, navigation, and sail handling — skills that complement modern naval education. The vessel’s multi-month cruises allow extended practical training at sea while building international goodwill through public ship visits. At the time of the collision, the Cuauhtémoc carried 277 crewmembers and cadets, including those who tragically became victims of the allision.

What are the latest investigation updates?

NTSB preliminary report

The NTSB launched a full investigative team to New York City the afternoon after the incident, with the Coast Guard declaring it a major marine casualty the following morning. Parties to the investigation include the US Coast Guard, McAllister Towing, the New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots, and the Harbor Pilots of New York and New Jersey. The NTSB case number is DCA25MM039, and estimated damage exceeds $500,000.

CBS News reported that investigators were examining the role of wind, tide, and the speed increase observed in the minutes before the crash. A tugboat had accompanied the departure, though officials have not yet detailed what intervention — if any — the tug attempted before the collision became inevitable.

Damage assessments

Unlike the catastrophic damage to the ship and its crew, the Brooklyn Bridge sustained no structural damage from the collision, with no injuries reported among the motorists or pedestrians on the bridge at the time. Traffic continued largely unaffected. The damage was concentrated aboard the Cuauhtémoc, where the violent collapse of all three masts created a debris field across the deck and resulted in the two fatalities and 19 injuries.

The pattern of catastrophic ship damage alongside negligible bridge impact raises questions about infrastructure resilience standards for vessels transiting beneath older suspension bridges in busy urban waterways.

Timeline of the collision

Confirmed versus unclear

The NTSB and multiple official sources confirm several elements of the collision: the date and time, the casualty figures, the ship’s speed, the sequence of mast contacts, and the presence of a tugboat. What remains under investigation is the precise cause of the propulsion loss and whether crew or equipment factors played a role beyond the mechanical failure. Bridge damage was minimal to nonexistent; ship damage was substantial.

Eyewitness accounts and official statements

“The Cuauhtémoc lost power and was forced toward the bridge pillar.”

— NYPD Chief Wilson Aramboles, via ABC7

“Dramatic eyewitness videos showed masts breaking and debris falling onto the deck as sailors dangled from their harnesses above the chaos.”

— EMS1 incident report

“Two sailors fell from a mast during the collapse. The victims were identified as America Yamilet Sanchez, 20, and Adal Jair Marcos, 23.”

— The Times

Videos circulating online captured the ship’s final moments in harrowing detail. The Cuauhtémoc can be seen drifting backward under the Brooklyn Bridge, with the first mast striking the bridge deck around 20:24:42. Within seconds, the remaining masts followed in sequence, each impact sending shockwaves through the vessel and throwing crew members from their positions. First responders described a scene of chaos as they worked to secure the ship and evacuate the injured.

Related reading: Brooklyn Nine-Nine

NTSB findings highlighted sailor positions during impact, a factor dissected in this detailed incident breakdown amid calm weather conditions.

Frequently asked questions