At least 2 dead, 22 injured after Mexican Navy ship strikes the Brooklyn Bridge, officials say

May 17, 2025, 10:16 p.m.

The ship, which was on a world tour, is used as a training vessel by the Mexican Navy.

A photo of a Mexican naval vessel crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday night.

At least two people have died and 22 others were injured after a tall ship belonging to the Mexican Navy struck the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday night, according to Mexican government officials.

City officials said the ship, the Cuauhtemoc, struck the bridge shortly before 8:30 p.m. after losing power. Its two tall masts snapped off when it made impact with the 140-year old suspension bridge as drivers sped by in either direction, according to multiple videos of the incident. In one video of the incident, crew members can be seen hanging onto ropes after the masts were severed.

The Mexican Navy wrote in a statement that 22 crew members were injured in the crash, with 11 left in critical condition. The NYPD reported two people died of their injuries.

One of the victims who died was later identified as cadet América Yamilet Sánchez by Veracruz Gov. Rocío Nahle García, who expressed condolences on social media Sunday.

“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez,” Nahle wrote on X. “My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family.”

The city and U.S. Coast Guard said all members of the crew had been accounted for, but city officials said 277 people were on the ship while the U.S. Coast Guard said 252. The Mexican government said the ship, which arrived in New York City on Thursday, had a total of 277 crew members.

Traffic on the bridge had shut down but resumed just before 11 p.m. Saturday, according to city officials. The Coast Guard also said commercial traffic in the area had been suspended, and that a safety zone had been established from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Manhattan Bridge. Adams said the bridge did not sustain any damage as a result of the incident.

mayor adams and other officials looking at the boat.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters that the National Transportation Safety Board would be called in to investigate.

In one video of the incident, the ship is seen nearly careening into the waterfront at Brooklyn Bridge Park, as a tugboat pulls alongside in its wake.

“It looked like a ghost ship,” said Andrew Perloff, a DUMBO resident who was walking in Brooklyn Bridge Park around 9:30 p.m. He said he watched more than half a dozen emergency vehicles race to the scene. But by the time he reached the water’s edge, the vessel appeared to be empty.

The boat, which arrived in New York on Thursday, was sailing as part of a training cruise to celebrate Mexico’s independence, and was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 countries, according to the Mexican government. The vessel had come from Cozumel, Mexico and was bound for Reykjavik, Iceland next, Mexican officials said.

The Coast Guard said the Cuauhtemoc was being moved to Pier 36 for the time being.

Phil Corso contributed reporting.

This story has been updated with new information provided by government officials.

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