NAVAL TALL SHIP FROM MEXICO CRASHES BROOKLYN BRIDGE 19 INJURIES – 2 DEAD
América Yamilet Sánchez and Adal Jair died in the Mexecan tall ship and Brooklyn Bridge accident
BY SNN.BZ STAFF
DISASTER ON THE EAST RIVER! Mexican Navy Tall Ship Slams into Brooklyn Bridge, Killing Two, Injuring Dozens in Shocking Smash-Up
NEW YORK — A festive goodwill tour turned into a nightmare Saturday night when the Mexican Navy’s majestic tall ship, the ARM Cuauhtémoc, plowed into the Brooklyn Bridge, snapping its towering masts like toothpicks and leaving one sailor and one navy cadet dead and at least 20 others injured, officials said. The horrifying crash, caught on video by stunned onlookers, sent sailors and navy cadets that had been dangling from rigging onto the ship itself. None fell in the water. The accident sparked a frantic rescue operation on the chilly East River.
The names of the people that lost their lives in the ARM Cuauhtémoc collision with the Brooklyn Bridge on May 17, 2025, are América Yamilet Sánchez and Adal Jair Marcos.
Official statements from the Mexican Navy, President Claudia Sheinbaum, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirm the deaths were the result of a tragic accident when the Cuauhtémoc lost power.
The Cuauhtémoc, a 297-foot, three-masted barque proudly flying a massive Mexican flag, was wrapping up a week-long visit to New York’s South Street Seaport when disaster struck just before 8:30 p.m. on May 17, 2025. The ship, carrying 277 crew members, including naval cadets on a global training cruise, was headed to Iceland when the Cuauhtémoc lost power which resulted in the ship veering into the iconic 142-year-old bridge, authorities said. Its 158-foot masts, decked out with festive lights, smashed into the bridge’s underside, which has a clearance of just 127 feet at high tide, causing all three masts to collapse in a gut-wrenching scene.
“It was like something out of a movie,” said Brooklyn resident Nick Corso, 23, who filmed the chaos from the waterfront. “The masts just snapped, and you could hear screams from the ship. Sailors were hanging from the rigging, swinging like rag dolls. It was pure panic.” Videos posted on X showed the ship drifting backward, its masts crumpling as horrified crowds chanted “Mexico! Mexico!” in a mix of shock and solidarity. One clip captured a sailor dangling from a crow’s nest for agonizing minutes before being rescued.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the grim toll on X early Sunday, saying that one sailor and one cadet perished after falling from a mast, and 19 others were injured, with two in critical condition. “We’re praying for everyone on board and their families,” Adams wrote, praising first responders for preventing an even worse tragedy. The FDNY, NYPD Harbor Unit, and U.S. Coast Guard swarmed the scene, transporting victims to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Bellevue Hospital. Divers scoured the river as a precaution, but officials said no one fell into the water.
The Mexican Navy, in a statement on X, called the crash a “mishap” that damaged the Cuauhtémoc, halting its voyage. The ship, built in 1982 in Spain and dubbed the “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” has sailed to 228 ports in 73 countries, training cadets and showcasing Mexican culture. It had been wowing New Yorkers with free tours at Pier 17 since May 13, complete with traditional music and knot-tying demos, as part of a promo for the 2026 Sail July 4th celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
But Saturday’s joyride turned deadly when the ship’s captain, battling mechanical failure, lost control, NYPD Chief of Special Operations Wilson Aramboles said. “The pilot lost power, and the current pulled the ship right into the bridge’s pillar,” he told reporters, noting sailors on the masts bore the brunt of the impact. The National Transportation Safety Board is now probing the fiasco, with early reports pointing to a power cut and possible misjudgment of the bridge’s clearance.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed heartbreak, offering condolences to the victims’ families. Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, on-site with consulate officials, vowed to support the crew, saying the ship “has shared Mexican culture for over 20 years.” The Mexican government promised to contact the families of the fallen and injured, whose names have not been released pending notification.
Witnesses described a surreal scene as the ship, its lights flickering out, drifted toward the Brooklyn Promenade. “I was watching the sunset when I saw it getting too close,” said onlooker Lily Katz, 29. “Then, boom! The masts hit, and I saw someone hanging up there. It was chilling.” Another bystander, Torrey Leonard, recalled a “loud crunch” like “wood splintering,” followed by screams that sent diners leaping from their tables.
The Brooklyn Bridge, a global landmark, escaped major damage and reopened after a brief closure, the city’s Department of Transportation said. “No structural issues,” Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez assured, though inspections continue. The Cuauhtémoc, now docked at Pier 36, is a mangled shadow of its former glory, its masts shattered and its mission in limbo.
As the city reels, questions swirl about how a vessel of the Cuauhtémoc’s stature could miscalculate so badly. “This ship’s been everywhere—Japan, Korea, you name it,” said maritime expert Capt. Juan Caballero. “Something went horribly wrong.” For now, the proud vessel sits stranded, its crew mourning, and New Yorkers left grappling with a night they’ll never forget.
Sources: BBC News, The New York Times, AP News, CNN, The Guardian, NYPD, Mexican Navy, Mayor Eric Adams Public Information Office.
