Lucy Devine
Authorities in New York have revealed in an initial report why a ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge this weekend, leaving two people dead.
A Mexican navy training ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday (May 17), with 277 people on board.
The ship was passing underneath the bridge when its masts clipped the structure, leaving two people dead and 19 injured.
Now, authorities have revealed what happened and why the collision took place.
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Wilson Aramboles, New York's police chief said the ship had left a pier in Manhattan and was not meant to head towards the bridge. But an initial report has said the ship lost power due to a mechanical problem.
The masts were too tall to clear the Brooklyn Bridge, so they ultimately toppled as the vessel attempted to sail in reverse under the bridge.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement released on Twitter: "Earlier tonight, the Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.
"At this time, of the 277 on board, 19 sustained injuries, 2 of which remain in critical condition, and 2 more have sadly passed away from their injuries.
"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.
"Following our preliminary inspection, we can confirm that the bridge sustained no damage and is now open to the public."
Meanwhile, Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico, added: "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. Our sympathy and support go out to their families.
"The Navy, with the support of local authorities, is currently treating the wounded. The Mexican ambassador to the United States and staff from the Mexican Consulate General in New York are supporting the Navy.
"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 National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into exactly what happened.
One witness, Flavia Moreira, was walking along the promenade when the ship struck and said the ship 'kept coming closer' before it hit the bridge.
“But it just kept coming closer and closer to us, and at some point, I was like, I don’t think that’s right,” Moreira told CNN. "A lot of people started recording like me because it was just such a surreal experience.
“We could see some people being kind of dragged. There was some, I believe it was some of the staff, they were on the top of the boat. And they were swinging around, back and forth as soon as the ship hit the bridge."
“The ship was just so close to us, so we could see all those people really struggling to just like holding onto something to… don’t fall from the boat."
A member of law enforcement told CNN that the two individuals who sadly died in the incident had fallen from one of the masts.