A training cruise turned tragic when a Mexican Navy ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge

Countries & Cities · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: On May 17, 2025, the Mexican Navy's sail training vessel Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge. What began as a routine celebration of Mexican Independence ended in a chaotic accident, leaving two crew members dead and multiple sailors injured after the ship's masts were sheared off by the iconic landmark.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:26 p.m. EDT as the Cuauhtémoc was reversing out of the South Street Seaport in New York City. Despite the vessel's intended path toward the sea, the ship began traveling in the wrong direction, moving astern toward the Brooklyn Bridge. This unexpected maneuver resulted in the ship's masts striking the underside of the bridge at the height of the vessel's topgallant sails, causing the loss of her topmasts.

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released on June 30, 2025, highlights a complex chain of command during the accident. The process involved a docking pilot giving commands to the captain, which were translated from English to Spanish and relayed through multiple crew members. While the ship initially moved away from Pier 17 at 2.5 knots, its astern speed unexpectedly increased from 3.3 knots to 5.1 knots between 20:23 and 20:24, prompting the pilot to call for tugboat assistance.

The collision had a heavy human cost. Of the 227 people on board, two cadets—from the Mexican states of Veracruz and Oaxaca—were killed. One of the fatalities was reportedly standing on top of the rigging during the impact. Several other crew members sustained injuries, with three reported in critical condition. While the Brooklyn Bridge sustained no major structural damage, the incident caused a temporary closure of all lanes on both sides of the bridge.

Designed in 1981 and formerly called Celaya, the Cuauhtémoc undertook a 2025 training cruise named 'Consolidation of Mexican Independence.' This voyage commemorated the 1825 removal of the last Spanish bastion at San Juan de Ulúa. Following the accident, the vessel returned to Mexico on November 23, 2025, where it was received with an official ceremony in Veracruz.

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