A Mexican Navy training vessel, the tall sailing ship ARM Cuauhtémoc, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge late Saturday night, May 17, causing injuries to multiple people and triggering a search and rescue operation.
The Cuauhtémoc, carrying around 200 people, struck the iconic bridge when one of its 147-foot masts hit the structure shortly before 9 pm, according to sources cited by the New York Post. Emergency teams swiftly responded, rescuing those who ended up in the waters near the bridge. Victims with serious injuries were transported to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with at least two people reported in critical condition and rushed to hospitals for urgent care.
Shocking videos of the incident quickly circulated on social media, showing the ship’s towering mast crashing into the bridge’s deck as onlookers watched in disbelief. Many viewers likened the tall ship’s dramatic collision to a “pirate ship” incident, noting the massive Mexican flag flying on the vessel as it rammed the bridge. One social media user commented, “Just watched the Brooklyn Bridge get smoked live by a boat with a massive Mexican flag.”
The ARM Cuauhtémoc, a training ship built in Spain in 1982, is owned by the Mexican Navy and serves as a vessel for naval cadet training. The reasons behind the ship’s journey along the East River at the time of the collision remain unclear. Mexican Navy officials have classified the event as a mass casualty incident, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
This accident has revived memories of the Baltimore bridge collapse last year. On March 26, 2024, the cargo ship Dali collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing a 1.6-mile section of the bridge to collapse and tragically killing six maintenance workers. Authorities in Maryland have since announced plans to replace the damaged bridge by fall 2028.
As investigations continue into the Brooklyn Bridge collision, authorities are focused on aiding the injured and assessing the structural impact on the historic bridge, a vital connection in New York City’s transport network.
Sources By Agencies
