Officials Explain What Happened in Deadly Brooklyn Bridge Boat Crash

Officials are speaking out about the deadly Brooklyn Bridge boat crash that claimed two lives.

For those unfamiliar, on May 17, two people lost their lives and over a dozen others were injured when a Mexican Navy training ship collided with the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge. The vessel, named Cuauhtémoc, was carrying 277 individuals and reportedly "lost power" before the crash, according to NYC Mayor Eric Adams. At the time of the incident on Saturday night, the ship was on a global goodwill tour and headed to Iceland, officials said.

Officials told CNN that the ship was headed in the wrong direction due to wind currents.

“It was the current that took it under the bridge,” the person said. “It wasn’t supposed to be headed in that direction.”

The senior official also stated the Cuauhtémoc’s captain told investigators he lost steering of the vessel after the rudder stopped working.

“They had some sort of mechanical issue, they lost power so without being able to use the rudder, they could not steer,” the official said.

Following the tragedy, the crew of the Cuauhtémoc remained on board overnight, a senior official stated. City officials are now working to safely disembark the crew and arrange their return to Mexico.

Authorities have identified one victim as 20-year-old cadet América Yamilet Sánchez.

"I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez. My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family," the governor of Veracruz, Rocio Nahle, wrote in Spanish on social media.

According to Mexican authorities, the second victim has been identified as Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos