NEW YORK — A Mexican Navy training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, killing two people and injuring at least 19 others, after reportedly losing power while navigating the East River.

The Cuauhtémoc, a tall sailing ship carrying 277 people, struck the bridge’s Brooklyn abutment, snapping its towering masts as it attempted to pass under the structure. Dramatic video footage showed crew members standing on the masts as they broke and fell onto the deck.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the fatalities and said two of the injured remain in critical condition. No major structural damage was reported to the Brooklyn Bridge, which reopened after a safety inspection.

Authorities attributed the collision to a mechanical failure and a power outage. The ship lost all three of its masts, but no crew members fell into the water, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Witnesses described chaos and panic along the waterfront. "Lots of screaming, some sailors hanging from the masts," said Brooklyn resident Nick Corso. Another witness, Kelvin Flores, told the BBC the scene was filled with “commotion” and emergency crews struggling to reach the crash site due to traffic congestion.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed condolences, calling the loss of the two sailors deeply saddening.

The Cuauhtémoc, launched in 1982, serves as a training vessel for naval cadets and had departed from Acapulco in April en route to Iceland. Its masts reportedly stood 158 feet tall—well above the 135-foot clearance of the Brooklyn Bridge at its center, raising questions about the navigation plan.

The ship was towed from the site after the collision. Investigations are underway. — BBC