💥 A Routine Voyage Turns Catastrophic
The ship, a nearly 300-foot-long, steel-hulled barque,
had just left a Manhattan pier for what was meant to be the next leg of a
goodwill voyage to Iceland.
But within minutes, the journey took a fatal turn.
“The ship lost power and drifted into the Brooklyn Bridge,”
said NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles, who later suggested
early signs of mechanical failure.
🚨 Emergency Response: “It
Happened So Fast”
At 8:20 PM ET, the New York Fire Department received
the first emergency calls. Onlookers watched in horror as the ship — apparently
drifting in reverse — struck the bridge's lower structure, shearing off
pieces of its towering masts.
Several sailors stationed on the masts at the time of
the impact suffered devastating injuries. By midnight, Mayor Eric Adams
confirmed the tragic toll on social media:
- 🕊️
2 dead
- 🚑
19 injured
- ⚠️
2 in critical condition
🇲🇽 A Nation in
Mourning
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed
condolences Sunday, confirming the deceased were members of the Navy and part
of the crew aboard the Cuauhtémoc. The ship’s voyage, once meant to
symbolize international unity, has now been indefinitely suspended.
“This was a ship of peace. We are grieving with the families
of our sailors,” read a statement from the Mexican Navy, posted on X
(formerly Twitter).
🏗️ Brooklyn Bridge:
Structurally Sound, Emotionally Shaken
Despite the horrifying impact, officials confirmed that
the Brooklyn Bridge itself sustained no structural damage. Traffic resumed
within hours, and no civilians on the bridge were injured.
But for New Yorkers and visitors alike, the sight of a proud
naval vessel crippled beneath one of the city’s most iconic landmarks left a
haunting impression.
The Cuauhtémoc, known as the "Ambassador and Gentleman of the
Seas."
🎥 Caught on Camera
Eyewitness videos captured by ABC News and social
media users show the Cuauhtémoc gliding backward, its sails lowered but
towering masts still high enough to catch the bridge. A sharp crack echoes in
the footage as the collision occurs — followed by stunned silence and shouts.
“You could hear the masts snapping. It was like a giant tree
falling,” one witness said.
🔍 What Happens Next?
The U.S. Coast Guard and Mexican Navy are jointly
investigating. Early speculation centers on a mechanical failure in the
ship’s propulsion or rudder system, but nothing has been confirmed.
The Cuauhtémoc’s current status is docked and under
inspection. Officials stress that updates will follow as more details emerge.
🕯️ Remembering the Fallen
A vigil is expected at the Mexican Consulate in Manhattan
this week. Community members and naval families are invited to honor the lives
of the lost sailors — whose journey was meant to inspire peace but ended in
tragedy.
📰 Related Coverage
- Baltimore
Bridge Collapse: Lessons in Infrastructure Safety
- What
is a Barque Ship? History of Naval Sailing Vessels
- Watch:
The Cuauhtémoc’s Collision with Brooklyn Bridge (ABC News Video)
✍️ Written by Ruchira Dilshan
📅 May 18, 2025
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