Flowers and flags are placed on a gate by a damaged Mexican Navy sailing ship, the ARM Cuauhtémoc, that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend in lower Manhattan on May 19, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Mexican tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc was on a good-will tour visiting New York on Saturday when it crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. Two crew members died and at least 22 crew members were injured.
Cadet América Yamilet Sánchez Hernández, 20, from Xalapa, Veracruz and sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, 23, from San Mateo del Mar, Oaxaca, died of their injuries.
The collision snapped all three of the masts on the ship as it collided with the bridge.
The ship had just set sail to Reykjavik, Iceland when the crash occurred.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, including whether the use of a tugboat helped the ship before or after the crash. Another issue could have been that the propellers may have been running in reverse, according to maritime experts. The wind and current could have also been an influence.
The NTSB said on Monday there were at least three calls for assistance from the ship, according to El Universal. They will release their report in 30 days.
Chief investigator Brian Young said when the ship set sail, the East River current was three knots but when it started to go back, the speed increased to six knots.
The Mexican Navy announced on Monday that 172 cadets from the Cuauhtémoc ship have arrived at Veracruz. Two cadets are still in New York under stable conditions.
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