Ship Crashing into Brooklyn Bridge 'Looked Like an Optical Illusion,' Passenger Seen 'Dangling' from Sail (Exclusive)

Published: Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 10:12 am

Mexican Navy Ship Crashes into Brooklyn Bridge: Witnesses Describe Shocking Scene

A dramatic incident unfolded over the weekend as a Mexican Navy ship, the Cuauhtmoc, crashed into the iconic Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The collision, which occurred after the ship lost power, resulted in two fatalities and left two others in critical condition, with a total of 19 people injured.

Witness accounts paint a picture of disbelief and chaos. Senior PEOPLE reporter Chris Spargo, who witnessed the crash, initially thought it was a movie scene due to the ship's size and the apparent impossibility of navigating under the bridge. Wedding guests, who were nearby, described seeing people "dangling" from the ship's sails, wearing harnesses, as the masts collided with the bridge. One guest recounted the ship appearing to head straight towards them before turning, ultimately crashing into the bridge. Another described seeing people fall from the masts.

The ship, a training vessel for the Mexican Navy, had been stationed in the Seaport since May 13th, with its masts illuminated with lights. A large musical performance was reportedly taking place on board just before the crash. The Mexican Navy confirmed the incident on X, stating that the crash caused damage to the ship and halted its training cruise. Authorities are currently assessing the damage and providing support. All 277 people on board the ship are believed to be accounted for.

This incident highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure and the potential for accidents even with experienced crews. The investigation into the cause of the power loss and the subsequent crash is ongoing.

Keywords: Brooklyn Bridge, Mexican Navy, Cuauhtmoc, ship crash, New York City, accident, injuries, fatalities, witnesses, power loss, training ship, Eric Adams, Chris Spargo, wedding, dangling, sails, masts, Seaport, NYPD, New York Times

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