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“Oh no!” stunned bystanders could be heard shouting in videos that quickly spread online.
One witness, Lily Katz, described a harrowing scene: “We saw someone dangling, and I couldn’t tell if it was just blurry or my eyes, and we were able to zoom in on our phone and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for like at least like 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them.”
Another onlooker, 23-year-old Nick Corso, had been hoping to capture a scenic photo of the ship beneath the bridge at sunset — but instead found himself witnessing chaos. “I didn’t know what to think, I was like, is this a movie?” Corso recalled. “Pandemonium.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams initially reported that 19 individuals had been treated for injuries. Later, he confirmed that two people had tragically died, while two others were in critical condition. “All injuries appear to be limited to those on the vessel,” Adams wrote in a late-night social media post. The Brooklyn Bridge, miraculously, escaped serious damage.
The full scope of the casualties remains unclear, as conflicting media reports continue to emerge. However, all indications point to the fatalities and injuries being contained to the ship’s crew.
The Cuauhtémoc, built in 1982 and named after the last Aztec emperor who was executed by Spanish conquistadors, is no ordinary vessel. With over 600,000 miles logged across nearly 5,000 voyages, the ship has long served as a floating ambassador for Mexico, participating in international maritime parades and goodwill missions. She is the last of four sister ships built in a classic barque design, frequently spotted in tall ship races and naval ceremonies around the globe.
Following the accident, the Mexican navy released a statement via social media confirming that 22 individuals had sustained injuries, with 19 receiving medical treatment. “The Mexican navy said in a post on the social platform X that the Cuauhtémoc was an academy training vessel. It said a total of 22 people were injured, 19 of whom needed medical treatment,” reported the Associated Press.
Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry also stated that diplomatic personnel were coordinating with local officials to provide support: “The Foreign Affairs Ministry said on X that its ambassador to the U.S. and officials from the Mexican consulate in New York were in contact with local authorities to provide assistance.”
While early speculation suggests the ship’s sudden loss of power was the primary cause of the incident, federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an inquiry and are urging the public not to jump to conclusions. “It’s too early to determine the exact cause,” an NTSB representative noted.
This shocking accident has raised serious concerns about maritime safety in crowded urban ports and has sparked debate over whether large foreign vessels should be more tightly monitored when navigating New York City’s waterways.
As investigators piece together the details of what led to this catastrophic collision, many are left grappling with a simple question: how did a world-renowned training vessel, steered by professionals, end up crashing into one of America’s most iconic landmarks?
More updates are expected as the NTSB continues its investigation into this tragic and highly unusual maritime disaster.
