19 Injured After Mexican Navy Ship Collides with Brooklyn Bridge in New York

A training ship of the Mexican Navy struck the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Saturday, leaving 19 people injured, including four in critical condition, city officials confirmed.

The tall ship, ARM Cuauhtémoc, was passing under the bridge when its towering masts collided with the underside of the historic structure. The force of the impact caused sections of the ship’s rigging to collapse, and the vessel drifted toward the Manhattan shoreline, eventually coming to a stop near the Manhattan Bridge.

Videos circulated on social media captured the dramatic moment of the collision, with the masts crashing into the bridge and debris falling as crew members clung to the rigging above deck.

Mayor Eric Adams stated that emergency crews responded swiftly to the scene, treating 19 individuals, including four who sustained serious injuries. Despite the collision, initial assessments found no major structural damage to the Brooklyn Bridge, which dates back to 1883.

“The swift actions of our emergency responders prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome,” Adams said during a press conference.

Eyewitnesses in Brooklyn Bridge Park described the scene as chaotic and frightening. Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz, who were watching the sunset, reported seeing a person hanging from the mast following the crash.

“We saw someone dangling, and I couldn’t tell if it was just blurry or my eyes,” Katz told the Associated Press. “We zoomed in with our phone and there was someone in a harness up there for at least 15 minutes before rescue teams got to them.”

Emergency personnel used smaller boats to evacuate two injured individuals from the ship on stretchers.

The Cuauhtémoc, used by the Mexican Naval Academy for training purposes, was on an international goodwill voyage when the incident occurred. The ship was flying the Mexican flag at the time of the collision.

The Mexican Navy confirmed the accident in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), stating the ship had sustained damage and would be unable to continue its planned route. Naval authorities, in coordination with New York officials, were assessing the crew’s condition and the extent of the damage on board.

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its ambassador and consular staff were in contact with local authorities and providing support to the cadets involved. It did not specify whether any of the injured were Mexican nationals.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. Authorities have yet to confirm whether navigational errors, mechanical issues, or other factors contributed to the crash.

The Brooklyn Bridge, a major 19th-century engineering landmark, connects Manhattan and Brooklyn and sees daily traffic of over 100,000 vehicles and 32,000 pedestrians, according to the New York City Department of Transportation.

While the bridge remains structurally sound, officials said engineers will continue to inspect the site in the coming days. As of Sunday morning, the Cuauhtémoc remained docked near the Manhattan Bridge, surrounded by law enforcement and maritime safety personnel.

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