Mexican Navy ship hits Brooklyn Bridge: Cadet identified as first of 2 victims killed in fatal East River collision, official says
Share this @internewscast.com

NEW YORK — A Mexican official has reported that a female cadet was among the two individuals killed when a tall Mexican Navy ship on an international goodwill tour collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday evening.

According to the governor of Veracruz, Rocío Nahle, the victim is identified as cadet América Yamilet Sánchez.

“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez. My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family. My gratitude to the @SEMAR_mx and my wishes for a speedy recovery for those injured. Veracruz is with you,” Nahle expressed in a translated post on X.

Nearly two dozen others were also injured when the ship, known as the Cuauhtémoc, lost power and crashed into the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The accident occurred just before 8:30 p.m. on Saturday near Brooklyn Bridge Park. Terrified bystanders watched helplessly as the huge ship carrying nearly 300 sailors advanced towards and then crashed into the 142-year-old bridge. The impact caused the ship’s three tall masts to snap, leaving crew members hanging in the air.

According to Mexican Navy officials, a total of 22 crew members have been reported injured so far, with at least 11 of them in critical condition. Two people aboard the ship died as a result of the collision.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams weighed in on social media early Sunday morning about the deadly crash.

“We are praying for everyone on board and their families and are grateful to our first responders who quickly jumped into action, ensuring this accident wasn’t much worse,” Adams said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, the New York City Department of Transportation says the Brooklyn Bridge was not damaged from the collision and that traffic can freely flow.

Vessels moving in the nearby area have since been instructed to proceed at slow speed, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, as the Cuauhtémoc remains at Pier 36 on the East River for damage assessments and further evaluation.

The Cuauhtémoc, a training ship on an international goodwill mission, was set to disembark and was next headed to Iceland when the collision happened.

The ship was never meant to get that close to the Brooklyn bridge — it was going south to the Brooklyn waterfront for fuel before heading to Iceland to continue on that on that goodwill tour, when its pilot reported a mechanical failure and the ship lost power. The boat then drifted north, out of control.

The ship’s masts snapped as it struck the bridge’s underside, and pieces fell onto the deck. Officials say the iconic span itself did not sustain structural damage. All lanes on the bridge reopened after a brief closure following the collision.

The authorities said that 277 people were aboard the ship, and that nobody fell into the water, even as some sailors were left dangling from harnesses on the masts after the crash.

At least 19 people were injured, 4 seriously, after a Mexican Navy boat on a training cruise crashed into the bottom of the Brooklyn Bridge, officials say.

The victims were being taken away on stretchers at Pier 17 at South Street Seaport.

The National Transportation Safety Board is on site and will begin its investigation, but preliminary information shows it was likely a mechanical issue with the sailboat, according to officials.

Witness videos capture the ship’s ominous approach toward the bridge. In one video, a woman filming the ship, which was festooned with amber lights and a giant Mexican flag, can be heard wondering aloud if the ship might collide with the bridge. When the ship’s mast strikes the bottom of the bridge, she screams, “It crashed! It crashed!” in Spanish, and then, in English, as the ship continues to approach the Dumbo shore, “Stop! Stop!”

“Oh my God,” she continues in English, and then, in Spanish, she says, “It crashed, it crashed. Run away from there,” referring to people gathered on a pier where the ship seemed about to hit.

ABC News contributor John Nance discusses what we know so far after a Mexican Navy ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.

NYPD Harbor Unit and SCUBA were among the first responders who converged on the scene.

The Mexican ship was described as a “goodwill vessel” that had plied the waters since 1982.

The Cuauhtémoc is about 297 feet long and 40 feet wide, according to the Mexican Navy. The vessel’s main mast has a height of 160 feet, according to the Mexican government.

Each year, the ship sets out at the end of classes at the naval military school to finish cadets’ training. This year it left the Mexican port of Acapulco, on the Pacific coast, on April 6, the navy said.

“Thousands of people came to see the ship,” said Maria Mejia. The ship, now diminished and docked at Pier 36 drew visitors all week at the Seaport — right until it left.

The Mexican consulate said on May 13 on X that the Cuauhtémoc, also called the “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” arrived that day and docked at Pier 17. It invited people to visit through May 17.

The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 nations, including Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; Cozumel, Mexico; and New York.

It also had planned to go to Reykjavik, Iceland; Bordeaux, Saint Malo and Dunkirk, France; and Aberdeen, Scotland, among others, for a total of 254 days, 170 of them at sea.

Members of New York City’s Mexican community prayed for the families in mourning and for the recovery of those injured.

“As a community, we just want to say that we’re here for them,” Mejia added.

An NTSB team is now on board. The agency says its investigative team includes experts in nautical operations and marine and bridge engineering.

The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Daredevil' actor dead at 41

‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Daredevil’ Actor Passes Away at 41

Actor Devin Harjes, best known for appearing in “Boardwalk Empire,” “Daredevil” and…
Colorado terror attack took place at 'Run for Their Lives' event calling for release of all hostages in Gaza

Colorado Attack Strikes ‘Run for Their Lives’ Event Advocating for Gaza Hostage Release

Colorado police reacted to a terror incident at an event advocating for…
Microplastics in your food are contributing to these two health issues: study

Study Reveals Two Health Problems Linked to Microplastics in Food

You know microplastics are showing up in your take out containers and…

Vacationing Couple Comes Home to Discover Half-Clothed Stranger Living in Their House and Wearing Their Outfits

A STUDENT couple were stunned when they found a half-naked stranger lounging…
36 Chinese, Taiwanese nationals arrested after ICE raids underground nightclub in Los Angeles

ICE Raids Underground Nightclub in Los Angeles, Arresting 36 From China and Taiwan

Three dozen Chinese and Taiwanese nationals were arrested following a raid on…
Alf Clausen at the ASCAP Awards.

Emmy-Winning ‘The Simpsons’ Legend Passes Away at 84 Following Rare Illness, as Tributes Pour In

AN ICON who worked on the beloved animated comedy series, The Simpsons,…
Prosecutors unveil rape and trafficking charges against controversial influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate

Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate Face Rape and Trafficking Charges from Prosecutors

Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate have been charged with a…
Michelle Obama reflects on mother Marian Robinson's life and legacy one year later; known as 'the first mother of Chicago'

Michelle Obama Looks Back on Her Mother Marian Robinson’s Life and Legacy: Celebrating ‘Chicago’s First Mother’ One Year On

CHICAGO (WLS) — The last weekend of May marked one year since…
Chris Hughes shares intimate photo of himself and JoJo Siwa cuddling in bed

Chris Hughes posts cozy photo with JoJo Siwa cuddling in bed

She’s getting her beauty sleep. Chris Hughes shared an intimate new photo…
FBI reports 'terror attack' in Boulder, Colorado

FBI Reports ‘Terror Attack’ Occurred in Boulder, Colorado

The attack took place at a popular pedestrian mall in Boulder and…
Ribfest Chicago to celebrate 25 years on city's North Side

Ribfest Chicago Marks 25th Anniversary on the City’s North Side

Ribfest Chicago, is clearly all about one thing – ribs! ABC7 Chicago…
Nigel Farage giving a press conference in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Farage Criticizes ‘Net Zero’ Policies for Job Losses and Promises to Protect UK Gas Before Crucial Scottish By-Election

NIGEL Farage today blasted “net stupid zero” for obliterating the UK’s oil…