A massive Mexican navy tall ship on a goodwill visit to New York slammed into the Brooklyn Bridge late Saturday — toppling its huge masts into the deck in a horrifying scene that left 19 injured, including four critically, according to fire officials and sources.
The majestic Cuauhtémoc — which has a crew of 277, mostly cadets — apparently lost power as it was sailing out of New York on its way to Iceland and the current carried it into the road deck of the bridge around 8:30 p.m., according to Mayor Eric Adams and footage of the crash.
The collision sheared off the ship’s 147-foot masts. Adams said two sailors were on top of the mast when it hit the bridge — which has a max clearance of 135 feet.
As the three huge masts hit the legendary span, slowly, one by one, at least two crew members were standing at the top of them at the time, officials said. Some other crew members were seen dangling from damaged masts.
“The boat was coming under the bridge, and there were sailors on top of the boat, the sails hit the bridge and then people were falling off of the boat sails,” said Elijah West, who witnessed the chilling crash at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
“It was crazy. We were standing under the bridge and we all started running. Then I saw people hanging from the sails. Police boats came around fast — about five minutes later. And then police guided the boat to the (Manhattan) bridge and started the rescue. It was a shock.”
Harrowing footage from the scene showed the high mast slamming the deck of the bridge and crashing dozens of feet below the deck. Other masts then appeared to go down after it.
Terrified onlookers standing at the Brooklyn park under the bridge could be seen bolting from the scene as the vessel headed for the green space.
“She’s about to crash,” one startled witness could be heard saying in the footage.
“Oh s–t!”
The mutilated ship is currently idle in the water while emergency responders work at the site. It’s expected to be moved to Pier 36, sources said.
First responders scoured the waters, but sources said no one fell in.
Victims are being transported to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with those in critical condition being taken to a nearby hospital for additional treatment.
“We were celebrating and we were saying goodbye and singing,” said Ismari Romero, 43, who witnessed the ordeal from Pier 17 with her sister and other Mexicans who wanted to welcome the ship to the Big Apple and “make them feel like home.”
“We were all joyful, and they departed. And when they reached the Brooklyn Bridge, I believe they hit the bridge and the top collapsed. We were very scared. A lot of people were screaming, a lot of people were crying. They’re like, ‘How is this happening? How is this possible?'”
The decorated ship was headed to Iceland when it crashed.
Fire officials warned motorists to expect traffic delays and road closures near New Dock Street & water Street in Brooklyn.
The bridge, which suffered minor damage, has since reopened to the public.
The vessel, built in Spain in 1982 with the sole purpose of training cadets, had been in the city as part of a promotion for next year’s Sail4th tall ship event, which celebrates America’s 250th birthday.
The stop is just the third in the vessel’s eight-month voyage around the globe, which offers the Mexican cadets the opportunity to flex their sailing muscles in environments like Jamaica, Iceland, Portugal and more.
This year’s class boasts 175 cadets, the largest class the nation’s navy has seen yet.
“The classes are getting bigger and bigger. We just keep getting more and more people!” said Lt. Sg. Hugo Calvario, the ship’s orthopedic surgeon.
“We had to leave almost 40% of the crew to take on more cadets,” he continued, meaning the trainees have to pick up the slack and take on more responsibilities.
The Post watched earlier this week as they skillfully climbed the dauntingly high ropes and stretched across the towers of the ship’s three masts to conduct what in English is known as “manning the yards” — a universal sign of respect that is done every time a ship enters a port.
It is expected to be one of 30 Class A International Tall Ships that will parade through the Harbor on July 4, 2026.
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