New York City officials have confirmed that the iconic Brooklyn Bridge did not suffer any structural damage following a tragic crash involving a Mexican navy vessel over the weekend that left two people dead.
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) shared an update early Monday on X (formerly Twitter), stating that initial inspections revealed no serious harm to the bridge’s load-bearing components after the tall ship Cuauhtémoc collided with the structure Saturday night.
“Commissioner Rodriguez surveyed the Brooklyn Bridge this morning following the weekend impact,” the DOT wrote. “While further inspections are underway, no structural concerns have been identified at this time.”
During a Monday press conference, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials echoed the DOT’s findings. Michael Graham, a board member with the NTSB, assured reporters, “There’s no indication of any significant damage to the bridge’s main support structures.” He noted some minor damage was found on a maintenance platform used by bridge inspectors, but emphasized it posed no threat to the bridge’s stability.
According to NTSB investigator Brian Young, the Cuauhtémoc had been docked at Pier 17 since arriving on May 13. On May 17, the ship set sail with tugboat assistance at around 8:20 p.m. with plans to head down the East River toward the open sea. However, just minutes later, disaster struck.
Young explained that weather reports at the time showed westerly winds of about 10 knots and a mild current heading toward the bridge. The vessel’s speed rose to roughly 6 knots. At 8:24 p.m., the ship’s crew issued a radio call for tugboat help near the Brooklyn Bridge. Two additional distress calls followed, and by 8:24:45 p.m., the ship’s mast slammed into the underside of the bridge. The vessel finally came to a stop three minutes later, with emergency crews from NYPD and FDNY arriving shortly after at 8:30 p.m.
NTSB investigators arrived in New York on Sunday and began examining the scene Monday. Graham said the investigation will take time… possibly up to two years… but a preliminary report should be ready within 30 days. The team will not speculate or determine the cause until all facts are collected and verified.
The scope of the investigation will cover various elements, including the ship’s condition, crew performance, mechanical systems, weather factors, and waterway conditions. Teams are also working to determine whether the vessel had any onboard recording equipment… similar to a plane’s black box… that could help explain what went wrong.
When asked about early NYPD reports hinting at a potential power outage before the crash, NTSB officials cautioned against jumping to conclusions. “We haven’t been able to access the engine room yet,” said Graham. “It’s unclear where those claims originated, but we will investigate every angle.”
To support the investigation, officials are seeking eyewitness footage. Anyone who recorded video of the crash is encouraged to email witness@ntsb.gov to assist.
As of now, the Brooklyn Bridge remains structurally sound, but the search for answers into this fatal maritime mishap is just beginning.
