Two people were killed and 19 others injured after a Mexican Navy training vessel collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed on Sunday.

The incident occurred as the tall ship Cuauhtémoc attempted to depart New York City. While passing beneath the iconic bridge, the vessel's three towering masts were sheared off, crashing into the East River and causing panic onboard.

"Of the 277 people aboard, 19 sustained injuries. Two remain in critical condition, and, tragically, two others have died from their injuries," Mayor Adams stated on X (formerly Twitter).

Dramatic footage circulating on social media shows the Mexican Navy ship with its sails furled and decorative lights strung across the rigging as it approached the bridge. Moments later, its masts collided with the bridge structure, snapping upon impact.

The Mexican Navy later confirmed that 22 individuals had been injured, three of them critically. The ship reportedly lost power as the captain attempted to navigate away from the dock, forcing it toward the Brooklyn bridge abutment, according to NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene.

“There was panic on the ship,” said Nick Corso, a Brooklyn resident who witnessed the crash. “Lots of screaming, some sailors hanging from the masts… It was total chaos.”

Corso, who was taking photos near the waterfront, captured the event on video and described people fleeing the area in alarm as crew members signaled for them to move away from the walkway.

Despite the dramatic collision, no one fell into the water, and no water rescue operations were necessary, the Mexican Navy stated.

The Cuauhtémoc, a barque built in 1982 with masts reaching 48.2 meters (158 feet), had arrived in New York just four days earlier as part of a diplomatic visit. The Mexican embassy had previously welcomed the ship with mariachi music, folkloric ballet, and large community gatherings at Pier 17 in Manhattan.

At the time of the crash, the ship was preparing to sail to Iceland. The Brooklyn Bridge was temporarily closed following the incident but reopened about 40 minutes later. Preliminary inspections showed no structural damage to the bridge, according to the New York City Department of Transportation.

In a statement, the Mexican Navy confirmed damage to the vessel and reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of its personnel, transparency in operations, and the training of future naval officers.

Following the crash, the damaged vessel was relocated near the Manhattan Bridge.