**Two Navy cadets from Mexico tragically lost their lives when the training ship ARM Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, sparking an outpouring of grief from their homeland and leading to an ongoing investigation into the incident.**
**Tragic Loss: Mexico Remembers Navy Cadets After Brooklyn Bridge Incident**
**Tragic Loss: Mexico Remembers Navy Cadets After Brooklyn Bridge Incident**
**Mexican Navy cadets die in tragic maritime accident as the nation mourns their loss.**
Mexican citizens are in mourning following a devastating incident involving the ARM Cuauhtémoc, a training tall ship of the Mexican Navy, which crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in the deaths of two young cadets. The victims, 20-year-old América Sánchez and 23-year-old Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, were part of a crew of 277 at the time of the accident.
Reports indicate that Sánchez was positioned atop one of the ship's three masts when the vessel collided with the bridge, leading to the masts snapping upon impact. The incident left 22 other crew members injured, with three suffering critical injuries, as per statements from the Mexican Navy.
Admiral Pedro Raymundo Morales, commander of the Mexican Navy, announced that all crew members who were fit to travel would be repatriated soon. The body of América Sánchez is set to be returned to her home state of Veracruz, where her mother, Rocío Hernández, has expressed deep sorrow and pride, calling her daughter an "exemplary daughter" and a dedicated naval engineering student nearing graduation. An impromptu memorial featuring flowers and photographs of Sánchez, including one from her "quinceañera," was created in her honor, underlining the impact she had on her family and community.
Simultaneously, friends and relatives of Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos are paying tribute to the aspiring sailor, mourning the loss of a young man who had long cherished the dream of continuing in his father's nautical footsteps. His friends recounted that being onboard Cuauhtémoc was a dream come true for him, reinforcing the close connection he had with the sea.
The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. Preliminary reports from New York officials suggest that the Cuauhtémoc may have lost power upon departing New York Harbor, becoming carried toward the bridge by the current. The ship's masts, which exceed a height of 48 meters, struck the bridge's base, which has a clearance of only 41.1 meters. Eyewitness footage captured the frightening moment, showing crew members entangled in the sails.
Mexican Navy Secretary Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles has promised that the navy will remain committed to transparency and accountability throughout the investigation. Launched on a journey that began in Acapulco on April 6, the Cuauhtémoc was destined for various international ports, including stops in New York and Aberdeen, Scotland, as part of a Tall Ships race scheduled for July.
