A ship carrying 277 people collided with the Brooklyn Bridge as it was passing beneath the iconic structure, resulting in at least two deaths and more than a dozen injuries.
Jaw-dropping footage posted online shows the moment a Mexican Navy training ship’s 147-foot mast smashed into the bridge just before 9pm on Saturday night.
Navy personnel were standing on the three masts as the tragedy struck.
The vessel is believed to have experienced a mechanical difficulty – causing the captain to lose control as the boat got swept up in the river’s current.
A search and rescue operation in the East River has been launched, creating a chaotic scene of blaring sirens and lights as officials rushed to rescue the injured.
Two people were killed, two others are in critical condition and at least 19 more sustained injuries, officials said. Victims were transported to local hospitals.
Crowds are seen lining the streets, applauding first responders exiting the scene as emergency lights flashed and sirens blared.
Shocked onlookers gathered on the nearby pier watching the horrifying moment unfold.
‘That sh*t’s about to crash,’ one terrified witness exclaimed as the boat, bearing a large Mexican flag, was seconds away from disaster.
The vessel was seen in horrifying footage colliding with Brooklyn Bridge just before 9pm on Saturday night
The ship’s mast was seen snapping backwards as the boat continued to drift under the bridge
Emergency services swarmed the area. EMS officials were seen rushing injured cadets into ambulances. Divers have also arrived at the scene
‘Oh sh*t!’ he screamed as people flocked away from the pier when the boat, named the Cuauhtémo, collided with the bridge – causing the masts to plummet onto the deck.
‘I thought it was maybe some sort of a terrorist attack,’ Aaron Travis, visiting from Texas, told DailyMail.com.
Another witness added: ‘As long as I’ve lived I’ve never seen anything crash into the Brooklyn bridge.’
Those standing along the masts were seen dangling from the beams, trying to save themselves from plunging nearly 150 feet into the water.
Bystanders Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz told the Associated Press they were sitting outside watching the sunset when they saw the vessel strike the bridge and one of its masts snap.
Looking closer, they said they noticed someone hanging from high on the ship.
‘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,’ Katz said.
The Navy personnel had been standing on the masts of the Mexican Navy ship as part of a ceremonial greeting and show of respect upon entering a port.
‘That sh*t’s about to crash,’ one terrified witness exclaimed as the boat, bearing a large Mexican flag, was seconds away from disaster
The boat sustained damage to its masts but continued to pass under the bridge connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn
This tradition, known as ‘manning the yards,’ is a longstanding maritime custom practiced worldwide.
The sailors aboard the Cuauhtémoc appeared to have been engaged in this time-honored ritual during the crash.
Emergency services swarmed the area. EMS officials were seen rushing bloodied cadets into ambulances. Divers have also arrived at the scene.
A bystander at the scene told DailyMail.com the emergency response was ‘insane’ and said boats continue to check the water.
In an X statement, the Mexican Navy explained in Spanish: ‘During the sailing maneuver of the Cuauhtémoc sailboat in New York, a mishap occurred with the Brooklyn Bridge, causing damage to the training ship, preventing the continuation of the training cruise for the time being.
‘The status of personnel and equipment is being reviewed by naval and local authorities, who are providing support.
‘The Navy reaffirms its commitment to personnel safety, transparency in its operations, and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican Navy.’
During a press conference, NYC Mayor Eric Adams was joined by Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch and other safety officials
The Coast Guard is working on towing the ship and at least 50 people have gathered at the scene to watch emergency efforts unfold
During a press conference, NYC Mayor Eric Adams was joined by Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch and other safety officials.
‘It is a unified effort to make sure that we look after all of those who were on the ship,’ Adams said.
NYPD officer Wilson Aramboles said no one is believed to have plunged into the water, but divers were sent out as a precaution.
Rodriguez confirmed there was no major damage to the bridge connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn bridge was closed in both directions, but it has since reopened, according to NYC emergency officials.
However, the NYPD has urged people to avoid Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood and the South Street Seaport in Manhattan as the investigation persists.
Tisch said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be taking over the investigation.
The Coast Guard is working on towing the ship and at least 50 people gathered at the scene to watch emergency efforts unfold. Hundreds of others lingered in the area to watch from afar.
The boat is still in the water and people have gathered at the scene to watch emergency efforts unfold
It left the Mexican port of Acapulco on April 6 and was scheduled to visit 22 ports across 15 countries
Video captured witnesses clapping and cheering for first responders, thanking them for their heroic efforts.
The ship arrived earlier this week and docked at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport Museum in lower Manhattan and has been open for tours.
It arrived in the city as a part of a promotion for next year’s Sail4th tall ship event, celebrating the country’s 250th birthday.
It left the Mexican port of Acapulco on April 6 and was scheduled to visit 22 ports across 15 countries.
When the gut-wrenching collision occurred, the boat was en route to Iceland.