Brooklyn bridge crash: Mexican ship's engine, tugboat draw scrutiny
The ship was departing from lower Manhattan's Pier 17 shortly after sunset on Saturday, the glowing bulbs strung from its mast a virtual light show shimmering on the East River. The ship's planned route was southward, away from the bridge and toward New York Harbor, bound for Iceland.
The ship cleared the dock but moved in reverse toward the bridge, authorities say. Scores of New Yorkers and tourists watched in horror as the masts of the ship slammed into the bridge and crumbled onto the boat. Members of the ship's crew could be seen dangling from the ship's crossbeams.
Videos of the crash quickly swept across social media.
NTSB begins 'long process' of assessing why Mexican ship crashed into Brooklyn Bridge
Mexican ship headed the wrong way before fatal Brooklyn Bridge crash, reports say
A total of 277 people were on board the ship. The city Fire Department said 27 were taken off the boat for medical treatment. The 142-year-old bridge suffered no serious damage.
"We will look at the status of the engine, we will look for any failures, we will look for engine inspections and we'll talk to the crew on what may have possibly happened with the engine," Young said at a NTSB briefing May 19.
Contributing: Reuters
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