NTSB begins 'long process' of assessing why Mexican ship crashed into Brooklyn Bridge
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are still trying to gain access to the Mexican ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, killing two crew members and injuring more than a dozen.
No interviews have been conducted or data analyzed yet, NTSB member Michael Graham said at a Monday afternoon news conference, adding that he expects Mexican authorities to grant permission for analysts to board the ship soon.
“This is the start of a long process,’’ Graham said. “We will not be drawing any conclusions, we will not speculate. We also will not be determining the probable cause while we’re on scene.’’
Graham said the agency will issue a preliminary report within 30 days, but full investigations normally take between 12 and 24 months.
However, the bridge’s condition was assessed much more quickly by the NTSB’s highway safety team in conjunction with New York City transportation officials.
“They have affirmed at this point that there is no significant structural damage to the load-bearing elements of the bridge,’’ said Graham, noting that the only damage was found on a moving platform used to inspect the span, which has reopened.
Here's what we know about the crash:
What happened in the collision?
The Cuauhtémoc, a sail training vessel for the Mexican Navy, struck the bridge connecting the Brooklyn and Manhattan boroughs at around 8:20 p.m. ET on May 17, causing all three of the masts to snap.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the ship lost power, which would have made it impossible to steer. Graham did not confirm that information and said he didn't know where it originated. In addition to the two sailors who died, two people are in critical condition, authorities have said.
Naval cadets dressed in white uniforms could be seen dangling from the ship's crossbeams after the Cuauhtémoc's 147-foot masts failed to clear the arched bridge and were sheared off upon impact. At least 19 sailors required medical assistance.
What caused Mexican Navy ship to hit Brooklyn Bridge?
It's not clear yet. The NTSB arrived on the scene Sunday to open an investigation and Graham didn't have any answers yet.
The "multidisciplinary investigative team" looking into the crash includes "experts in nautical operations, marine and bridge engineering and survival factors," the NTSB said on X.
Mexico's Navy supported local authorities in responding to the crash, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said.
The ship was traveling the wrong way before its collision, The New York Times and the Associated Press reported.
Who are the Mexican Navy ship crash victims?
A total of 277 people were on board the ship when it crashed, Adams said. The Fire Department of New York said 27 people were removed for treatment.
A female cadet and a male Marine died from their injuries, Sheinbaum told reporters May 18. Sheinbaum said the injured cadets were "doing better."
In a post on X, Rocío Nahle García, the governor of Veracruz, Mexico, identified one of the cadets killed in the crash as América Yamilet Sánchez. The other victim was identified by officials in San Mateo del Mar, Oaxaca, as Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, 23.
The Mexican Navy said 172 cadets and seven officers from the Cuauhtémoc crew had arrived early Monday morning in Veracruz on a flight from New York, where two cadets remain under medical care with serious injuries. None of the victims fell into the water, the Navy said. It's estimated that 94 crew members are still on the ship.
What was the Mexican Navy ship doing in New York?
The Cuauhtémoc ship was in New York from May 13 to 17 as part of a goodwill tour that encouraged visitors, according to the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, which referred to it as a "naval jewel.''
The Mexican Navy said in a press release the ship was visiting for a training cruise called "Bicentennial of the Consolidation of Independence at Sea." The ship was next headed to Iceland.
What happened to the Cuauhtémoc ship?
The ship sustained damage on all three of its masts as a result of the collision, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Cuauhtémoc, named after the last Aztec emperor, is "currently moored at Pier 36 on the East River as damage assessments and future actions for the salvage plans for the vessel are being determined," the Coast Guard said in a release.
What happened to the Brooklyn Bridge? Is it open?
The Brooklyn Bridge was temporarily closed in both directions after the collision, according to New York City's Emergency Management Department.
Adams said the bridge was reopened to the public as of midnight local time on May 18.
The New York City Department of Transportation had bridge inspectors on site, but said "there are no signs of structural damage" to the bridge.
This story has been updated to fix a typo.
Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Gabrielle Banks and Eduardo Cuevas, Paste BN; Reuters
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for Paste BN. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.