Two dead and two others fight for their lives after Mexican navy ship smashes into Brooklyn Bridge

At least two people have been killed after a Mexican carrying hundreds of cadets and crew collided with the

The Cuauhtémoc, a stunning 270-foot training vessel,collided with the bridge just before 8.30pm on Saturday, May 17, with one of its towering 147-foot masts smashing into the bridge’s road deck, according to sources.

The terrifying impact brought the mast crashing down onto the ship’s deck . The crash happened in a matter of seconds and without warning leaving at least 19 other people injured, including two in critical condition.

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Emergency responders raced to the scene, with NYPD Harbor and Scuba teams conducting a frantic search and rescue mission. The bridge was briefly closed in both directions but was later reopened at around 10:30pm.

Although no one was believed to have fallen into the East River, dozens of victims were reported injured on board, with four sailors in critical condition, according to fire officials. Video from the scene showed horrified onlookers screaming and fleeing as the vessel approached, as part of its enormous masts sheared off one by one with the sickening sound of a crack as each one snapped.

This morning Mayor Eric Adams took to X to provid an update on the incident, he wrote: "Earlier tonight, the Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. At this time, of the 277 on board, 19 sustained injuries, 2 of which remain in critical condition, and 2 more have sadly passed away from their injuries.

"We are praying for everyone on board and their families and are grateful to our first responders who quickly jumped into action, ensuring this accident wasn’t much worse. Following our preliminary inspection, we can confirm that the bridge sustained no damage and is now open to the public."

The training ship, which was built at the Celaya Shipyards in Bilbao, Spain in 1981, according to the South Street Seaport Museum, was backing out from Pier 17 when the crash occurred. While the exact cause of the crash has not been officially conifirmed it appeared to have lost power, according to Mayor Eric Adams.

The collision was caught on camera by multiple people from multiple angles as crowds gathered to film the grand ship as it attempted to depart. Footage shows the ship moving in reverse, slowly approaching the bridge, before the topmost mast makes contact. The impact resulted in debris like splintered beams, light fixtures, and canvas falling from the ship.

The ship was disembarking from New York and heading to Iceland, a New York police official said.