Mexican Navy Ship Hits Brooklyn Bridge: What We Know So Far

The NTSB has assembled a team of experts in New York to conduct a safety investigation into the crash involving the training ship known as Cuauhtémoc.

Many of the crew members on the Mexican navy tall ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge have flown home from New York, according to federal officials on Monday.

Federal investigators said during a press briefing that the city has helped 179 cadets on board the ship return to Mexico. Officials said they believed 94 crew members remain on board.

The National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB) released additional details about Saturday night’s collision that killed two people and injured at least 19 others.

The investigation is still in its beginning stages, and investigators have just started collecting perishable evidence, according to the NTSB.

Video footage from onlookers showed the training ship heading opposite of its intended direction when its 147-foot-tall masts hit the bridge. A total of 277 sailors were on board at the time of the deadly collision.

“This is the start of a long process,” NTSB member Michael Graham told reporters. “We will not be drawing any conclusions. We will not speculate. We will also not be determining the probable cause while we’re on scene.”

The NTSB has assembled a team of experts in New York to conduct a safety investigation into the crash involving the training ship known as Cuauhtémoc.

Timeline

Based on preliminary navigational data, federal officials shared a timeline of events that led up to the incident.

The Cuauhtémoc arrived on May 13 at noon and docked at Pier 17, where it remained stationed for about three days.

On May 17 at 8:20 p.m., the ship began backing away from the pier with the assistance of a tugboat. The intent was to sail south down the East River and head for sea.

There were “dusk conditions” at the time, officials said, with westerly winds of 10 knots and the current at 0.3 knots.

After departing the pier, the vessel increased its speed to 6 knots.

The ship sent out a total of three requests for help through a radio broadcast. At 8:24 p.m., the training vessel asked for assistance from other tugboats in the area. Two additional requests followed for the same assistance.

At 8:25 p.m., the ship struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge and came to a complete stop at 8:27 p.m.

Assets with the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the New York Fire Department (NYFD) were on scene by 8:30 p.m.

Cause of the Crash

The NYPD initially said that a power outage related to a mechanical problem was possibly to blame for the incident, but federal officials during Monday’s press conference said they don’t know where police received that data. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement on X at the time that the Cuauhtémoc lost power when it crashed into the bridge.

The NTSB says it will explore whether engine failure contributed to the incident.

“We will look at the status of the engine. We‘ll look for any failures. We’ll look for engine inspections. And we'll talk to the crew on what may have possibly occurred with the engine,” NTSB engineer Brian Young told reporters.

Officials also said they don’t know if there were any recording devices on the ship, such as a voyage data recorder (VDR).  But the NTSB team will be looking for any physical evidence on the ship that may help its investigation into the deadly collision.

What’s Next

The damaged ship is currently docked on the east side of Manhattan. Once the vessel is deemed structurally sound, it will be moved to a salvage yard for repair.

Within 30 days, the NTSB will issue a preliminary report. Investigations typically take between 12 to 24 months.

As part of its investigation, the NTSB will also explore the use of a tugboat to assist other vessels in these types of scenarios. The NTSB said it’s working with the Mexican government to get access to sailors who were on the ship. No discussions with the crew on board at the time of the incident have happened yet, officials said.

Meanwhile, investigators continue to canvass the shoreline for surveillance footage. Anyone who witnessed the incident and recorded video is encouraged to email [email protected]. The NTSB will then email them a link to upload their photos.

From NTD News