Fatal Brooklyn Bridge crash: Federal authorities investigate tugboat's role in Mexican boat accident

A tragedy shook the port of New York on Saturday night when the Mexican training ship Cuauhtemoc collided with the historic Brooklyn Bridge, leaving two cadets dead and more than 20 injured. The vessel, which is part of a commemorative training voyage for the bicentennial of the Mexican Navy, was maneuvering in the area with the support of a local tugboat before the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation to clarify the causes of the accident. Although inspectors have not yet been able to board the ship or interview the crew, they have begun to analyze the role that may have been played by the tugboat that was assisting the vessel moments before it lost control and collided with the bridge structure. Pedro Pascal's return in The Last of Us flashback stirs emotional fan reaction The role of the tugboat under scrutiny Boy Attempts Long Jump And Lands Safely According to NTSB investigator Brian Young, part of the focus will be on "examining the procedures" related to tug assistance in the harbor. It is suspected that the tug may have released the Cuauhtemoc prematurely, which would have contributed to the sailing ship reversing uncontrollably towards the bridge. Data recorder recordings from the boat reveal that at 8:24 pm, at least three distress calls were made requesting additional assistance. Just seconds later, the ship's mast struck the underside of the bridge, and the vessel finally came to a halt at 8:27 pm. NYPD and FDNY emergency crews arrived on the scene three minutes later, finding scenes of panic and despair. A mechanical failure and an interrupted mission Sources close to the investigation indicate that a possible failure in the steering system may have been the technical trigger for the accident. The Cuauhtemoc, built in 1982 in Spain, was en route to Iceland and had planned a technical stop in Brooklyn to refuel when the failure occurred. "We are still working to access the ship. We have not yet had the opportunity to review the engine or interview the crew," said NTSB official Michael Graham. The 277 crew members on board, mostly cadets from the Heroica Escuela Naval Militar de Mexico, were participating in a 170-day training voyage, visiting 22 ports in 15 countries. The aim was to pay homage to the bicentenary of the consolidation of Mexican naval independence. The voyage, however, was tinged with mourning with the loss of 20-year-old America Yamilet Sanchez and Adal Jair Marcos, who were remembered by their comrades as young people committed to their naval vocation. While dozens of cadets have already been repatriated, U.S. authorities continue to work with the Mexican government to facilitate full access to the vessel and advance the investigation. The shocking images of the accident, which showed sailors desperately clinging to the masts of the sailing ship, have caused a stir in both countries.