Brooklyn Bridge Ship Crash Investigation Begins: What To Know

NEW YORK CITY — The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a press conference on Monday after a Mexican tall ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two people and injuring 22 others on Saturday.

The NTSB has said they will dispatch a go-team to investigate the crash.

Mayor Eric Adams in a post on X said, "there were no signs of structural damage to the Brooklyn Bridge."

"We are praying for everyone on board and their families and are grateful to our first responders who quickly jumped into action, ensuring this accident wasn’t much worse,” Adams wrote. “Following our preliminary inspection, we can confirm that the bridge sustained no damage and is now open to the public.”

On Sunday, New York City Emergency Management held an interagency meeting that included the mayor's office, FDNY, NYPD, the U.S. Coast Guard, the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the MTA.

There was speculation after the crash that the ship's vehicle traffic service, or VTS, may not have been fully or adequately functioning.

The U.S. Coast Guard in a statement said the VTS "was fully functional during the incident, operating in accordance with established procedures to manage commercial traffic and facilitate safe navigation. Our response included launching a crew from Station New York, establishing a temporary safety zone, and coordinating with NYPD, FDNY, and NYC DOT."

The identities of the two people killed have not been released.

Crash On Saturday

The Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, officials said.

The ship was leaving to go to Iceland before the crash. It had arrived in the city this past week and was docked at Pier 17. Free tours were being offered of the boat up until Saturday night.

Videos shared on social media show the masts collapsing after hitting the bridge. Onlookers can be heard gasping as they watch the crash before the boat continues under the bridge.

The vessel’s main mast has a height of 160 feet, according to the Mexican government.

The Brooklyn Bridge sustained no damage in the crash.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum regretted the loss of the two crew members.

“Our solidarity and support go out to their families,” Sheinbaum said on X.