Brooklyn Bridge tall ship tragedy: Victims revealed
The young Mexican navy cadets who were on the masts of a tall ship when it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge have been identified.
One of the ​young Mexican Navy cadets killed in ​the Brooklyn Bridge ship crash ​has been identified as an award-winning swimmer who posted a beaming photo of herself in front of the boat hours before the tragedy.
The other tragic dead Mexican maritime cadet was described by friends as a beloved world traveller.
The doomed mariners — America Yamilet Sanchez of Xalapa in the state of Veracruz and Adal Jair Marcos of Oaxaca — were up on the masts of Mexico’s 147-foot training ship Cuauhtemoc when it lost its steering ability and smashed into the bridge.
The Mexican navy tall ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge apparently lost power shortly before the collision, according to the New York Police Department.
“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez,’’ Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle García wrote on X. “My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family.
Sanchez, a 20-year-old talented athlete from Veracruz’s capital city, posted a photo of herself smiling broadly in front of the doomed vessel.
She was a renowned swimmer who had won several medals in the sport, according to a report from local outlet e-Consulta Veracruz.
She is thought to have arrived in New York on May 13 as part of Cuauhtémoc’s international tour.
Meanwhile, Marcos, known to his friends as “Tyson” or simply “Marcos,” had been aboard the ship for the past nine months and had travelled the world on the high seas — from Hawaii and Tokyo to New Zealand and Australia, the Mexican outlet El Universal reported.
He was originally from Salina Cruz in Oaxaca, the outlet said.
“Two months ago you gave me a shirt from the barque team you loved the most, and now you’re no longer with us,” a grieving friend wrote online. “God bless you up there, and I hope I see you again and share lockers with you again.”
Another friend wrote that Marcos was “more than a friend. A brother.”
HOW TRAGEDY UNFOLDED
The ship was taking part in a training cruise to mark the so-called “Bicentennial of the Consolidation of the Independence of the Seas,” or the 200th anniversary of the Mexican Navy expelling the last of the Spanish strongholds from Mexico.
The hulking Cuauhtémoc, which holds a crew of 277 largely made up of cadets, appeared to lose control as it went backwards into the bridge and slammed its towering masts into the roadbed at about 8.30pm local time on Saturday night.
Several people were critically injured, according to the New York Times.
The finding of loss of power is only preliminary officials cautioned and the The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating.
Officials said the ship was on its way out of New York on its way to Iceland when the disaster occurred.
Many of the ship’s crew were high up in the sails waving goodbye to the large crowd that had gathered to farewell it as it continued on its round the world journey to 22 ports in 15 countries when it collided with the bridge.
The massive ship was on a goodwill visit to New York when it slammed into the bridge — toppling its huge masts into the deck in a horrifying scene that went viral around the world online.
Another view of the Mexican tail ship crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge pic.twitter.com/XVmwRYxFaI
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) May 18, 2025
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo released a statement expressing “sympathy and support” for the family of the crew members killed in the tragic crash.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two crew members of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in New York Harbor,” she wrote on X.
“The Navy, with the support of local authorities, is currently treating the wounded.
“I thank New York Mayor Eric Adams for all the support he has provided to our fellow citizens. We are monitoring the situation, and the Navy will continue to provide updates.”
The damaged vessel has been towed to a secure dock for inspection.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the two sailors were on top of the mast when it hit the bridge — which has a maximum 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!”
First responders scoured the waters, but sources said no one fell in.
Victims were 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 bridge, which suffered minor damage, has since reopened to the public.
The vessel, built in Spain in 1982, was in New York 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 orthopaedic 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 New York Post watched earlier this week as they skilfully 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.
The Mexican navy released a statement after the wreck.
“During the sailing manoeuvre of the Cuauhtémoc sailboat in New York, a mishap occurred with the Brooklyn Bridge, causing damage to the training ship, preventing the continuation of the training cruise for the time being,” they said. “The status of personnel and equipment is being reviewed by naval and local authorities, who are providing support,” the organisation added. “The Navy reaffirms its commitment to personnel safety, transparency in its operations, and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican Navy.”
This article was originally published in the New York Post
Originally published as Brooklyn Bridge tall ship tragedy: Victims revealed