The Cuauhtémoc Ship Was Headed the Wrong Way Before Crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge

• Cuauhtémoc Ship Was Misguided Before the Crash
• Mexico Investigates the Incident
• Tugboat Error Suspected

A preliminary investigation has revealed that the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship of the Mexican Navy, which crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, was headed in the wrong direction at the time of the accident.

The incident resulted in at least two fatalities,

along with more than twenty people injured.

This was reported by EFE.

What Happened

? The Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, which collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, was “heading in the wrong direction,” said a senior New York official.
https://t.co/VC16cPxTe1
— El Universal (@El_Universal_Mx) May 18, 2025

According to reports obtained by CNN from a senior New York official, the vessel was originally scheduled to dock at a pier in Bay Ridge to refuel before departing for Iceland.

However, the current dragged the Cuauhtémoc ship upstream toward the bridge, on a course that was not part of its planned route.

The ship’s captain told investigators that the rudder stopped functioning, making it impossible to steer and avoid the collision.

Authorities are also investigating the role of a tugboat, seen in videos guiding the vessel, which may have contributed to the accident.

Cuauhtémoc Ship Was Misguided Before the Crash

⚓️ Cuauhtémoc Training Ship “was headed the wrong way,” says official
https://t.co/AasSHiyTmG
— El Diario de Coahuila (@DiarioCoahuila) May 18, 2025

The Cuauhtémoc Ship had been docked in Manhattan with 277 people on board.

The collision occurred on Saturday night at 8:26 p.m. local time.

The impact damaged parts of the ship’s masts, although the bridge did not suffer structural damage.

This was reported by CNN.

The Consequences

The Cuauhtémoc Training Ship was in reverse at the moment of impact.
https://t.co/GSqkhesvji
— Emeequis (@emeequis) May 18, 2025

In addition to the two fatalities, eleven people sustained serious injuries, and nine others are in stable condition.

Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle confirmed the death of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it would send a team of investigators to analyze the ship’s voyage data recorder.

Security analyst Gerardo Rodríguez stated that “everything seems to indicate this was a tugboat error,” which could imply liability for both the contracted company and Navy officials.

The NTSB team will arrive Sunday to begin their inspection. Authorities will seek to determine whether the error was mechanical, human, or a combination of both.

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