Baltimore Bridge Collapses After Powerless Cargo Ship Rams Into Support Column; 6 Presumed Dead

A cargo ship is stuck under the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship hit the bridge in Baltimore, Md., on March 26, 2024. Steve Helber/AP Photo

BALTIMORE—A cargo ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, March 26, destroying the span in a matter of seconds and plunging it into the river in a terrifying collapse that could disrupt a vital shipping port for months. Six people were missing and presumed dead.

The ship’s crew issued a mayday call moments before the crash took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, enabling authorities to limit vehicle traffic on the span, Maryland’s governor said.