Mexican Army Ship Crashes Into Brooklyn Bridge

The Mexican Navy sailing training ship named “Cuauhtémoc”, which was on a global friendship tour, had an unfortunate accident in New York. The ship, which was scheduled to continue its route via the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, crashed into the iconic structure of New York. In the accident, three of the ship’s masts were broken, two sailors were sadly killed and 19 people were injured.

Symbolic Tour Overshadowed by Tragic Incident

The “Cuauhtémoc,” a training platform for naval cadets of the Mexican Navy, sets sail each year to help cadets complete their pre-graduation training. The 254-foot-long ship, which began its 6-day global friendship tour on April 90 from the Mexican port of Acapulco, was scheduled to visit 15 ports in 22 countries. The ship reached New York on Tuesday, but its symbolic tour was marred by a tragic incident when it crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.

Moment of Accident and First Responses

The accident occurred at 20.20:XNUMX local time, amid heavy traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge. Many eyewitnesses recorded the moment with their cell phones, and the footage clearly shows the ship named “Cuauhtémoc” speeding toward the bridge near the Brooklyn side of the East River, with all three of its masts hitting the main span of the bridge and breaking one by one.

New York Mayor Eric Adams said the historic 142-year-old bridge was not seriously damaged, and that at least 19 people were taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, despite all efforts, two seriously injured crew members could not be saved. After the accident, the ship drifted towards the docks on the river. There were 277 people on board at the time of the incident, and the ship was flying a large Mexican flag proudly.

Sailors Stuck in Air for Minutes

Authorities announced that some sailors on top of the broken masts were saved without falling into the water thanks to the rope systems. However, according to eyewitness accounts, some sailors hung in the air on top of the broken masts, holding on to the ropes, for about 15 minutes, waiting to be rescued. These terrifying moments revealed the seriousness of the accident.

The Accident Through Witnesses' Eyes

A witness named Nick Corso, who stated that he took out his phone to record the view of the bridge and the ship at sunset at the time of the incident, said that he heard a loud crash within seconds and then panic set in. Many people, like Corso, witnessed this unexpected and saddening event.

Initial Statement from the Mexican Navy

The Mexican Navy announced in its first statement on the social media platform X that the Cuauhtémoc was a training ship for naval students and that 22 people were injured in the accident. However, it was shared in the following hours that the death toll had risen to two. The Navy expressed its condolences for the sailors who lost their lives and wished the injured to recover as soon as possible.

Cuauhtémoc: An Experienced Training Ship

The ARM Cuauhtémoc, a three-masted barquentine schooner approximately 90 metres long, takes its name from Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec emperor who was captured and executed by the Spanish in 1525. Built in 1981 in Bilbao, Spain, the ship was initially named “Celaya”. It was later purchased by the Mexican Navy as a training ship for officers, cadets, petty officers and sailors. Cuauhtémoc, whose main mast is approximately 49 meters high, made its maiden voyage in 1982 and has since played an important role in developing naval cadets' seamanship. The ship has sailed around the world many times and represented Mexico in international waters.

Causes of the Accident Are Being Investigated

While the causes of the accident have not yet been officially announced, eyewitness accounts and initial investigations suggest that the ship may have made a maneuvering error while approaching the Port of New York. Some sources also suggest that the ship may have been swept away by the current or experienced a technical malfunction. The New York police and relevant maritime authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to shed light on all the details of the accident. The exact cause of the accident will be determined by examining the broken masts, deciphering the ship's logs, and taking statements from the crew.

No Damage to Brooklyn Bridge

According to initial findings, there was no structural damage to the 142-year-old Brooklyn Bridge, one of New York's iconic structures. Mayor Eric Adams announced that the bridge was reopened to traffic in a short time and that there were no safety issues. This was considered a welcome development as it prevented the accident from causing a larger disaster.

Future of Global Friendship Tour Uncertain

This unfortunate accident that occurred on the Cuauhtémoc ship, which was on a global friendship tour of the Mexican Navy, has raised questions about the future of the tour. The serious damage to the ship and the loss of crew have created uncertainty about whether the tour will continue as planned. The Mexican Navy is expected to make a statement on the subject in the coming days. However, this tragic event cast a deep shadow of sadness over the tour of the ship, which set out for friendship and education.

Sadness in the Maritime Community

This accident involving the long-standing training ship Cuauhtémoc of the Mexican Navy has caused great sorrow in the international maritime community. Sailors and maritime schools around the world have expressed their condolences to the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Such training ships are of great importance in terms of preserving maritime culture and training the next generation of sailors. The accident experienced by the Cuauhtémoc has once again reminded us of the risks of maritime training and that safety at sea must always be a priority.

The collision of the Mexican Navy sailing training ship “Cuauhtémoc” with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York was a tragic event for both Mexico and the international maritime community. The unfortunate accident that occurred during a global friendship tour on the ship, which lost two sailors and injured many, brought the seriousness of the incident to light. While the causes of the accident are being investigated, we offer our condolences to the families of the deceased sailors and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. While the future of the Cuauhtémoc remains uncertain, this tragic event once again reminds us of the importance of maritime safety and maritime education.