A goodwill visit turned tragic on Saturday night when a Mexican navy ship drifted into the Brooklyn Bridge, a route it was never meant to take, killing two sailors and injuring at least 22 others, reports the New York Times. The Cuauhtémoc, a tall-masted training ship used by Mexico’s naval cadets, had been docked at Manhattan’s Pier 17. It was due to leave New York with a brief stop along the Brooklyn waterfront before heading out towards Iceland. But around 8:30 pm., it unexpectedly started drifting backwards, straight into the underside of the bridge, tearing through rigging and splintering masts.Officials later said the ship had lost power and was not supposed to sail under the bridge at all. A spokesperson from New York’s Office of Emergency Management said the vessel was apparently headed in the wrong direction and had never intended to pass beneath the Brooklyn Bridge. A pilot onboard reportedly experienced mechanical issues just before the crash.The incident instantly turned a ceremonial voyage into a rescue effort. The ship was carrying 277 people. According to the Mexican navy, 22 were injured, 11 critically. Two crew members died in the crash. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed their deaths via social media, calling it a “deep tragedy.”Mayor Eric Adams said on social media, “This was a horrific incident — the vessel lost power before crashing.”Videos circulating on social media showed the ship shaking but staying upright as it stopped near Brooklyn Bridge Park.The Cuauhtémoc was launched in 1982 and is a 300-foot barque used to train naval officers. It had set sail from Acapulco in April on a 254-day goodwill mission, meant to “carry the Mexican people’s message of peace and goodwill to the seas and ports of the world.” Planned stops included Havana, Reykjavik, Aberdeen, Avilés, London and more.After the crash, the ship docked at Pier 36 with broken masts. Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry said the crew were still aboard early Sunday morning. “We’re still trying to figure that out,” he told the New York Times when asked where the sailors would spend the night. “They’re good soldiers.”The Brooklyn Bridge has a navigational clearance of 127 feet and was not designed for vessels like the Cuauhtémoc, whose tallest mast rises to about 160 feet. Officials confirmed no major damage to the bridge, but the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a full investigation.
