A majestic symbol of maritime tradition became a scene of chaos.
Mexico’s navy training ship, Cuauhtémoc, slammed into the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday.
It left two dead and at least 19 injured.
How did a proud 297-foot sailing vessel with nearly 300 aboard end up tangled in one of New York’s most iconic structures?
According to officials, the ship lost power just as the captain was navigating the East River.
With no propulsion and towering 158-foot masts, the ship had nowhere to go.
What Happened?
It went straight into the bridge’s underbelly—where the clearance tops out at 135 feet.
Footage shows the masts snapping like matchsticks, sending sailors tumbling.
“Lots of screaming, some sailors hanging from the masts,” said witness Nick Corso.
Amid panic on the shore, emergency crews rushed through gridlocked streets.
“Commotion and chaos,” recalled another onlooker, Kelvin Flores. “Seeing the damage was insane.”
Despite the impact, the Brooklyn Bridge stood firm and reopened soon after.
The Cuauhtémoc—a regular on international goodwill tours—was towed away, now mastless and battered.
Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the deaths and expressed condolences.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called the incident heartbreaking.
From Acapulco to what should have been Iceland, the ship’s journey ended in heartbreak.
