19 damage as Mexican naval coaching ship strikes Brooklyn Bridge

A historic Mexican naval coaching ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge in New York Metropolis Saturday night time, injuring 19 folks, 4 significantly, New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned.

Others have been being checked out, and divers have been probing waters on the scene as a precaution, in line with three police sources with information of the incident.

Adams mentioned at a information convention Saturday night time that the tall ship with 277 folks on board suffered a mechanical mishap that brought on it to veer into the bridge because it had set sail from Pier 17 en path to sea.

“The pilot misplaced energy of the ship,” he mentioned, including that two crew members have been on a mast and have been injured within the collision.

Chief Wilson Aramboles of the New York Police Division’s Particular Operations Division mentioned the collision occurred about 8:20 p.m.

Inspectors have been instantly dispatched to evaluate the situation of the bridge, the police sources mentioned. New York Metropolis Division of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez mentioned the pinnacle of bridge division was on the scene, with a preliminary evaluation concluding there have been no indicators of main injury.

Adams mentioned the bridge was open.

Nobody fell into the water, officers mentioned on the information convention. The ship was in the end headed to Iceland, Aramboles mentioned.

Video from the scene confirmed two masts from the ship, lit up in incandescent colours as night time fell, hanging the bridge, with folks on the mast hanging on.

Witnesses interviewed by NBC New York mentioned the boat, which no less than one mentioned was no stranger to the East River and native waters, appeared to have a party-like environment with music.

On shore after the collision, paramedics have been seen wheeling away among the injured on stretchers, some sporting neck braces. Onlookers may very well be heard chanting, “Mexico! Mexico!”

Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, a Mexican ambassador to the U.S., on the information convention recognized the ship as ARM Cuauhtémoc, a historic Mexican Navy coaching vessel.

Although it is listed as a crusing ambassador for Mexico for subsequent yr’s Sail4th 250 celebrations, a spokesperson for the occasion mentioned in a press release Saturday night time that the “Mexican Tall Ship Cuauhtémoc shouldn’t be one of many ships dedicated so far to take part in subsequent yr’s Sail4th 250 occasion.”

The spokesperson continued, “Chris O’Brien, President of Sail4th 250, is deeply saddened by what he’s studying about this night’s collision and is following the information with the injured sailors in his prayers.”

The town’s Seaport Museum on Pier 17 hosted the ship by Saturday, with public viewing scheduled throughout its five-day keep.

The New York Metropolis-area Sail4th 250 occasions will rejoice America’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, with what’s being billed because the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from world wide.

The UK nonprofit Sail Coaching Worldwide describes the vessel a being in-built Bilbao, Spain, in 1981 and initially referred to as “Celaya.”

“She was later acquired by the Mexican Navy as a coaching vessel for officers, cadets, petty officers and sailors,” in line with the group. “Cuauhtemoc sailed the world for 13 years and in 1995 underwent a serious refit of the ship and rigging.”

The New York Police Division mentioned it was investigating the incident. Officers on the information convention mentioned the Nationwide Transportation Security Board would additionally probe the reason for the collision.

Police requested folks to steer clear of the world of the bridge and close by streets.

It is a growing story. Please verify again for updates.