What to know about the Brooklyn Bridge crash involving a Mexican Navy ship
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People watch a Mexican navy tall ship being tended by the authorities after it crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on May 18. Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
A Mexican Navy ship struck New York's Brooklyn Bridge Saturday, killing a sailor and a naval cadet and injuring others.
The big picture: Two people died following the crash, NTSB member Michael Graham said during a news conference on Monday, citing local authorities.
- Nineteen were injured, two of whom were in critical condition as of Sunday, NYC Mayor Eric Adams previously said.
- The ship had a crew of 277.
The latest: Inspections to the Brooklyn Bridge were ongoing, but there were no signs of structural damage as of Monday afternoon, per the NYC Department of Transportation.
- The ship's speed suddenly increased before the crash, Brian Young, National Transportation Safety Board investigator, said during a news conference on Monday. The ship was meant to sail south down the East River but went backward toward the bridge.
- A radio call requested assistance from tugboats in the Brooklyn Bridge area. Two requests followed before the masts hit the bridge.
- An engine failure may have caused the strike, Young said, but the investigation is still ongoing.
What's next: The NTSB will interview the tugboat pilot, the harbor pilot, the captain of the ship and other crew members, Graham said.
Zoom in: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters Sunday that a cadet and a sailor died following the accident.
- Rocío Nahle, the governor of Veracruz, identified one of the victims as cadet América Yamilet Sánchez in a social media post.
Driving the news: The Cuauhtémoc was on a goodwill tour heading to Iceland, according to officials.
- The iconic bridge sustained no damage when the ship lost power and slammed into it, Adams said.
What they're saying: NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles said the ship had recently departed a Manhattan pier and was supposed to be heading out to sea when it drifted toward the bridge.
- The New York City Fire Department was alerted that the crash had occurred around 8:20pm ET Saturday, the department said in a statement.
The masts, where a "couple of sailors" were positioned, struck the bridge, Wilson said at a press briefing. Those sailors were injured.
- The Mexican Navy said in a statement shared on X that the crash will prevent the training ship's cruise for the time being.
- The steel-hulled three-masted barque is nearly 300 feet long with almost 160-foot-tall masts.
No one on the bridge was reported injured, according to the Associated Press.
Catch up quick: Eyewitness video shared by ABC News showed the moment the ship, apparently moving backward, struck the bridge and continued to float down the East River.
- Video of the moment captured traffic on the bridge as the masts snapped against it.
Go deeper: Misinformation runs rampant after Baltimore bridge collapse
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information.
