Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtémoc strikes Brooklyn Bridge, killing two crew members

Two crew members of the Mexican Navy died and 22 others were injured when the tall ship Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on 6 September 2025.

The three-masted vessel, widely known as Mexico’s “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” struck the underside of the bridge at around 8:20 p.m. local time while departing from Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan en route to Iceland.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that two crew members fell from one of the masts during the impact. Both were later pronounced dead in hospital.

Victims identified

Mexican officials identified the deceased as cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, from Veracruz, and sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, from Oaxaca.

The local government of San Mateo del Mar, Oaxaca, issued a statement offering condolences to Maldonado Marcos’ family. Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle expressed her sympathies to Sánchez’s relatives, calling her “a committed young woman whose life was dedicated to service.”

Emergency response and injuries

Authorities reported that 19 individuals were transported to hospitals across New York City. Three others received treatment on site. Of the injured, four remain in critical condition.

The accident prompted the deployment of more than 100 emergency responders, including firefighters, EMS staff, and marine units from the New York Fire Department. Crews worked to stabilise the vessel, assist the injured, and evacuate those in danger.

The Brooklyn Bridge was temporarily closed for structural inspections. Engineers later determined the bridge remained safe, and traffic resumed the following morning.

The Cuauhtémoc was secured and towed to Pier 36 for assessment. A safety zone was established around the vessel while investigators and engineers conducted inspections.

Mechanical failure suspected

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident. Experts in nautical operations, marine engineering, and survival factors have joined the inquiry.

Preliminary findings suggest that the ship may have experienced a rudder malfunction and lost power shortly before striking the bridge. Officials believe strong currents contributed to the vessel veering off course.

Mayor Eric Adams stated that the ship’s captain reported losing control after the rudder failed.

City officials noted that data from the ship’s voyage data recorder would be crucial to reconstructing the moments leading up to the collision.

Political concerns raised

United States Senator Chuck Schumer raised questions about whether cuts to Coast Guard funding during the Trump administration might have weakened oversight capacity at Vessel Traffic Services. Schumer argued that if staffing shortages played a role in the incident, they must be addressed urgently.

While no direct link has yet been established between Coast Guard operations and the collision, the senator’s remarks highlighted broader concerns about maritime safety in heavily trafficked waterways such as New York Harbour.

Mexican authorities react

The Secretary of the Mexican Navy, Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and injured, pledging full institutional support.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also conveyed her sorrow, stating that the government would assist victims’ families and ensure proper repatriation of the deceased.

Diplomatic staff in New York are working closely with local authorities to coordinate medical care for the injured and to facilitate communication with families in Mexico.

A vessel with global recognition

The Cuauhtémoc was built in Spain in 1981 and has served as a training ship for Mexico’s Heroic Naval Military School for more than four decades.

Often referred to as an ambassadorial vessel, it undertakes global goodwill missions, docking at international ports and participating in regattas and cultural exchanges.

The ship departed from Acapulco on 4 April 2025 on a scheduled tour of 22 ports in 15 countries. It had been docked at New York’s South Street Seaport Museum for five days of public visits, drawing large crowds before departing for Iceland.

The vessel is particularly known for its ceremonial traditions, including crew members climbing the masts during arrivals and departures. The same custom was being followed on Saturday evening when the collision occurred.

Eyewitness accounts

Several eyewitnesses reported that the Cuauhtémoc appeared to be travelling unusually close to the Brooklyn Bridge before the crash. Videos circulating on social media captured the dramatic moment when the ship’s masts struck the steel structure, splintering upon impact.

One witness described seeing crew members clinging to the rigging as the masts collapsed, while another recounted the sound of “metal screeching and wood breaking” as the vessel struck the bridge.

Next steps

Efforts are now focused on relocating the Cuauhtémoc to a secure site for repairs. Mexican naval authorities are coordinating with U.S. counterparts to assess the damage and prepare for the eventual continuation of the ship’s international voyage.

Meanwhile, the NTSB investigation is expected to last several weeks. A press conference is scheduled in the coming days to provide updates on the vessel’s technical condition and the causes of the accident.

For now, the incident stands as one of the most serious maritime accidents in New York City in recent years, combining both human tragedy and concerns about infrastructure safety.