Mexico mourns killed Navy cadets

[ad_1] Vanessa Buschschlüter BBC Information

Watch: Brooklyn Bridge occasions have been 'illogical', says sufferer's household

Mexicans are mourning the dying of two younger Navy cadets who have been killed on Saturday when the coaching tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc crashed into Brooklyn Bridge.

América Sánchez, 20, and 23-year-old Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos have been among the many 277 crew members on board the Mexican Navy's crusing ship when its three masts snapped as they hit the bridge.

In accordance with Mexican media, Sánchez was one of many cadets who was standing on high of the rigging on the time of the accident.

Twenty-two different crew members have been injured, three of them critically, the Mexican Navy mentioned.

The commander of the Mexican Navy, Admiral Pedro Raymundo Morales, mentioned all of the crew members nicely sufficient to journey can be taken again to their homeland quickly.

The physique of América Sánchez is scheduled to be transferred to the Naval Academy in her house state of Veracruz in a while Monday.

Her mom, Rocío Hernández, described the 20-year-old cadet as "an exemplary daughter" who was "a devoted pupil" aiming to turn into a naval engineer.

Standing earlier than an impromptu altar adorned with flowers and pictures of América Sánchez dressed up for her "quinceañera", the social gathering marking her fifteenth birthday, Ms Hernández paid tribute to her daughter.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/6b2e/live/acdf96a0-348e-11f0-8c0d-7fd09081d16a.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6b2e/live/acdf96a0-348e-11f0-8c0d-7fd09081d16a.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6b2e/live/acdf96a0-348e-11f0-8c0d-7fd09081d16a.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/6b2e/live/acdf96a0-348e-11f0-8c0d-7fd09081d16a.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/6b2e/live/acdf96a0-348e-11f0-8c0d-7fd09081d16a.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/6b2e/live/acdf96a0-348e-11f0-8c0d-7fd09081d16a.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/6b2e/live/acdf96a0-348e-11f0-8c0d-7fd09081d16a.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6b2e/live/acdf96a0-348e-11f0-8c0d-7fd09081d16a.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters Candles, flowers and photos of America Sanchez, a cadet who died after the Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtemoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, are kept as family and friends gather to pay tribute to her at her home in Xalapa, Mexico May 18, 2025." class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Reuters The physique of América Sánchez can be taken to her house city of Xalapa on Monday

"She was a warrior, a soldier who did not surrender, who at all times fought for her targets," she mentioned, including that her daughter solely had one yr left till her commencement.

"They [the Navy] will maintain a non-public ceremony in her honour on the Veracruz Naval Academy for her after which I'll convey her house," Ms Hernández mentioned thanking all of her daughter's family, mates and academics, whom she requested "to recollect her [América] with affection".

In San Mateo del Mar, a coastal city in Oaxaca state, mates and family of Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos have additionally been paying their respects after the younger cadet was confirmed because the second deadly sufferer of the crash.

His mates advised native media that the 23-year-old had at all times dreamt of following in his father's footsteps and changing into a sailor.

Being on board the Cuauhtémoc, often known as "Knight of the Seas", had been his best want, they recalled.

"The ocean noticed him being born and the ocean was a witness to his passing," one good friend to media, including that "all of us who knew him will keep in mind him as a job mannequin of an clever youth".

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/cc98/live/e956a720-349f-11f0-ad6d-67c1c2fdfbf5.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/cc98/live/e956a720-349f-11f0-ad6d-67c1c2fdfbf5.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cc98/live/e956a720-349f-11f0-ad6d-67c1c2fdfbf5.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/cc98/live/e956a720-349f-11f0-ad6d-67c1c2fdfbf5.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/cc98/live/e956a720-349f-11f0-ad6d-67c1c2fdfbf5.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/cc98/live/e956a720-349f-11f0-ad6d-67c1c2fdfbf5.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/cc98/live/e956a720-349f-11f0-ad6d-67c1c2fdfbf5.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cc98/live/e956a720-349f-11f0-ad6d-67c1c2fdfbf5.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Facebook An undated photo shows a smiling Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos in a stripy top and a cao aboard a ship. " class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Fb Associates mentioned Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos had at all times dreamt of changing into a sailor

The investigation into how the accident occurred continues to be beneath manner.

"That is the beginning of a protracted course of," Michael Graham of the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) mentioned throughout a briefing on Monday. "We won't be drawing any conclusions, we won't speculate."

Mr Graham mentioned there was "no important structural injury" to the load-bearing parts of the Brooklyn Bridge.

His colleague, Brian Younger, offered a preliminary timeline of occasions on the evening of 17 Could.

At 20:20 native time (00:20 GMT), the Cuauhtémoc backed away from Manhattan's Pier 17 with the help of a tug boat. It supposed to sail south on the East River earlier than heading out to sea, Mr Younger saidAfter departing the pier, the ship's astern (backwards) movement and pace elevated as much as 6 knotsAt 20:24 a radio broadcast was sounded requesting help from different tugboats within the space. It was adopted by two different requestsAt 20:24 and 45 seconds, the Cuauhtémoc's mast struck the underside of the bridgeAt 20:27 the ship got here to a stopBy 20:30, New York Metropolis police and firefighters arrived on the scene New York police officers beforehand mentioned it appeared that the Cuauhtémoc had misplaced energy because it was leaving New York Harbour and was dragged in direction of Brooklyn Bridge by the present.

Its three masts, measuring greater than 48m, hit the bottom of the bridge, which -according to the New York transport division's web site - solely has a clearance of 41.1m.

All three masts collapsed and video footage taken by bystanders exhibits a number of the crew members dangling from the yards and sails.

Mr Graham mentioned that his staff would think about the standing of the engine throughout their investigation.

"On behalf of the NTSB, I want to specific my most honest condolences to the households and family members of those that misplaced their lives on this horrible tragedy," he mentioned.

Video exhibits ship crashing into Brooklyn Bridge

Mexico's Navy Secretary Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles mentioned in an announcement the outcomes of any investigation can be adopted with "whole transparency and accountability".

The Cuauhtémoc left Acapulco, Mexico, on 6 April on a tour that included stops in New York and Aberdeen, Scotland, for the town's Tall Ships race in July.