Sailors hang in the air on the masts of Mexican naval ships after the ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge
After the ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge, Mexican sailors were seen hanging from the main mast of the naval training ship.
The sailors stood on the 150-foot mast of Cuauhtémoc until the boat, on the boat that hit the iconic structure on Saturday, as part of the traditional greeting.
The massive naval vessel, carrying nearly 300 passengers, reportedly attacked New York City’s iconic bridge, triggering a huge rescue response.
In multiple witness videos, the towering masts were seen breaking and partially collapse when hitting the deck of the bridge. The tall sailors were thrown into the chaos, and some were seen clinging to the high beams of light in the air.
Bystanders Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz Tell the Associated Press When they saw the boat hit the bridge, they were sitting outside watching the sunset, and one of the masts bounced.
They said, looking closer, they noticed someone hanging from the boat from a height.
“We saw people swaying around, and I couldn’t tell if it was blurry or my eyes, we were able to zoom in on the phone, and there were people hanging from the top from the top, at least 15 minutes before they could rescue them,” Katz said.
They reported that the two men were on a stretcher and moved to a smaller boat.
In videos of multiple witnesses, towering masts were seen breaking and partially crashing when hitting the deck of the bridge
Sailors perched on high above were thrown into chaos
Onlookers told the Associated Press that they noticed someone hanging high on the boat. Photo: Saturday, May 17, 2025, dozens of sailors can be seen hanging from Mexican Navy training ships
The massive naval vessel, carrying nearly 300 passengers, reportedly collided with the iconic New York Bridge while passing through it, triggering a huge rescue reaction
Navy personnel have been standing on the masts of Mexican naval ships as part of the ritual greetings and respect when entering the port.
This tradition, known as the “pier coin”, is a sea custom that the world has practiced for a long time.
The sailors on Cuauhtémoc seem to have participated in this long-standing ceremony in the tragic crash.
Historically, the height vantage point of the mast on board was used to monitor duties, allowing sailors to detect dangers, approaching the ship or land outside the horizon theage.com.
The Mexican Navy said in an article on social platform X that the academy training ship Cuauhtemoc was damaged in an accident with the Brooklyn Bridge, which prevented it from continuing its navigation.
It added that the naval and local authorities are reviewing the status of personnel and materials, which are helping.
“The Navy Secretary has updated his commitment to personnel safety, transparency, and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican fleet,” said Spanish.
