• A Mexican Navy training ship, Cuauhtémoc, crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, leading to two fatalities.
• The vessel lost power and drifted into the bridge during a goodwill tour with 277 people on board.
• At least 19 others sustained injuries, with two reported in critical condition.
• Investigations by local and federal authorities are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.
• Victims identified include América Yamileth Sánchez and Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos.

A Mexican Navy training vessel, the Cuauhtémoc, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, resulting in two fatalities and at least 19 injuries. The ship was on a goodwill voyage, carrying 277 individuals, including naval cadets, when it lost power and drifted backward into the bridge around 8:30 p.m., according to The New York Times and Las Vegas Review Journal.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that América Yamilet Sánchez, 20, and Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, 23, were the two victims of the incident. Initially, officials reported 22 crew members injured, with two in critical condition, and all were part of the ship’s ceremonial departure from Pier 17 in Manhattan prior to the accident, as reported by ABC News and South China Morning Post.

Eyewitness videos captured the harrowing moments as the ship struck the bridge, causing its towering masts to collapse. Panic ensued aboard as crew members dangled from the rigging, and authorities confirmed that none fell into the water, according to HuffPost and CBS News.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, looking into possible mechanical failures or human error that resulted in the vessel veering off course. Preliminary reports suggest the ship was traveling in reverse and lost control while navigating turbulent waters, exacerbated by the turn of the tide, as detailed by India Times and Channel News Asia.

The Cuauhtémoc is a historically significant vessel used for training cadets and had been on a goodwill mission intended to promote peace and goodwill across various ports, including a planned stop in Iceland after New York. The accident renewed attention on maritime safety, particularly concerning the operation of large vessels in busy waters like New York Harbor, as noted by Reuters and Al Jazeera.