New York Metropolis and federal officers have begun their investigation into why a Mexican tall ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two folks.
Movies present the second the Cuauhtémoc’s masts hit the bridge and snapped with 277 folks on board. Sailors have been seen dangling from wires after the masts broke. A minimum of 19 have been harm and two have been nonetheless in crucial situation after the accident, officers mentioned Sunday.
The Cuauhtémoc was docked at Pier 36 a day after what the Coast Guard known as a “devastating tragedy.” The Coast Guard has been guiding the ship’s crew on repairs and find out how to transfer it safely from the world.
The Mexican navy mentioned the collision occurred at round 8:30 p.m. Saturday because the vessel was departing the South Avenue Seaport for Iceland. Sailors have been standing on the yards alongside the mast for a ceremonial departure when the ship misplaced energy, New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned.
The broken masts of the Cuauhtémoc, a Mexican Navy coaching ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, are seen because it sits docked at Pier 36 in decrease Manhattan on Could 18, 2025 in New York Metropolis. The ship, which snapped all three of its masts because it collided with the New York Metropolis landmark bridge, killed at the very least two folks and injured dozens of others.
Spencer Platt/Getty Photos
The tall ship drifted backward and in the end struck the Brooklyn Bridge, snapping off the tops of the masts as some sailors clung to wires for security.
Officers mentioned the Brooklyn Bridge was not structurally broken.
The governor of Veracruz in Mexico, Rocio Nahle, posted to social media the identify of one of many victims who died.
“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez. My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family,” Nahle wrote in Spanish on social media.
NTSB dispatching go-team to analyze crash
On Sunday morning, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board mentioned it was dispatching a go-team to analyze the crash.
New York Metropolis Emergency Administration held an interagency assembly concerning the crash Sunday morning that included the mayor’s workplace, FDNY, NYPD, the U.S. Coast Guard, the New York Metropolis Financial Growth Company and the MTA.
“We will ensure a robust investigation and support for those impacted while maintaining the safety and security of the Port of New York,” the Coast Guard mentioned.
Rigging hangs from a snapped mast on the Cuauhtémoc, Sunday, Could 18, 2025, in New York, a masted Mexican Navy coaching ship that collided with the Brooklyn Bridge the evening earlier than.
Yuki Iwamura / AP
Sen. Schumer questions if DOGE cuts performed a task
In his weekly Sunday morning press convention, Senate Minority Chief Charles Schumer questioned whether or not cuts by the Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE, could have performed a task within the incident.
“Our hearts go out to the people of Mexico and those who lost their lives and who were injured in last night’s Brooklyn Bridge vessel crash,” Schumer mentioned.
The senator mentioned a tugboat was not getting used to help the vessel because it departed, and that one arrived after.
“We know that the Trump administration has been meddling in U.S. Coast Guard operations, from staffing to command and comms, and I have the general sense of a DOGE dysfunction in parts of the Coast Guard, to put it mildly,” Schumer mentioned. “After being fully briefed on last night’s Brooklyn Bridge accident, one thing is very clear. There are many more questions than answers as to how the accident occurred and whether it could have been prevented.”
Folks have a look at the Cuauhtémoc, a Mexican Navy coaching ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, because it sits docked at Pier 36 in decrease Manhattan on Could 18, 2025 in New York Metropolis. The ship, which snapped all three of its masts because it collided with the New York Metropolis landmark bridge, killed at the very least two folks and injured dozens of others.
Spencer Platt/Getty Photos
Schumer mentioned the Coast Guard has a system known as automobile site visitors service, or VTS, that’s just like how the FAA handles air site visitors management.
“There are indications that this service called the VTS may not have been fully or adequately functional in light of that hiring freeze. We don’t know the answer to that question. We need answers. If this were the case, Brooklyn Bridge accident could be a national harbinger, demanding immediate attention,” Schumer mentioned.
Schumer pointed to Admiral Linda Fagan’s being relieved of her duties as commandant of the Coast Guard on Jan. 21.
“In the time since the post of commandant have been vacant without a permanent commandant nominee. Furthermore, the current hiring freeze at the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, which the Coast Guard is part of, may have limited the ability of the Coast Guard to fully staff up at the VTS, the vehicle traffic service, the shore-wide system that provides quote air traffic control for the seas, especially in congested areas and restricted waters like New York Harbor,” Schumer mentioned.
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a press release saying the VTS “was fully functional during the incident, operating in accordance with established procedures to manage commercial traffic and facilitate safe navigation. Our response included launching a crew from Station New York, establishing a temporary safety zone, and coordinating with NYPD, FDNY, and NYC DOT.”
Schumer mentioned that whereas the bridge itself wasn’t structurally broken, a monitoring system beneath it that operates as a part of the bridge’s inspection system was broken.
Extra from CBS Information
