Why were there no splashes when the Mexican tall ship collided with the bridge?

Output from an AI-based research assistant program, for use as a research starting point only.

This is an example of getting quick context for a claim using SIFT Toolbox. You can look at more of these files here.

I'll help analyze these Twitter posts about what appears to be the Brooklyn Bridge incident. Let me first describe what I can see in the image, then proceed with a fact-check analysis.

The image shows a Google Maps screenshot of Pier 17 and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The map has markers for "Pier 17," "Brooklyn Bridge," and "Brooklyn Bridge boat accident." The tweet by @ItsJuliansRum asks "Guess where the Mexican ship was docked?" with "Pier 17" as the answer. A reply by @HappyPawsTreats (Lynn Phillips) questions why there was no evidence of people falling when the masts broke, mentioning no splashes, no screaming, etc.

Let me search for information about this incident to provide a proper analysis.

Let me search for more information about this incident to get a complete picture.

Based on the search results, I now have a good understanding of the incident. Let me provide a comprehensive fact-check analysis:

Generated May 18, 2025, may be out of date if significantly later. AI-Generated: Will likely contain errors; treat this as one input into a human-checked process

Overarching Claim Analysis

Moderate claim: The Mexican ship Cuauhtémoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, causing damage to the ship but not the bridge.

Strong claim: The reply tweet implies there's something suspicious about the accident, suggesting the lack of visible victims or appropriate human reactions indicates a staged or fabricated event.

✅ Verified Facts

Statement Status Clarification & Correction Confidence (1–5)
A Mexican naval training ship called Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge ✅ Correct The collision occurred on May 17, 2025 at approximately 8:20 PM ET [1] 5
The ship was docked at Pier 17 before the incident ✅ Correct The ship had been docked at Pier 17 for 5 days as part of a goodwill tour and was departing when the accident occurred [2] 5
The ship's masts broke during the collision ✅ Correct The ship's three masts (which were about 160 feet tall) struck the bridge's underside and snapped [3] 5
The accident resulted in fatalities ✅ Correct Two crew members died and 19 others were injured, with two in critical condition [4] 5
The ship was heading to Iceland ✅ Correct The ship was disembarking from New York and heading to Iceland as part of its international tour [5] 5

Statement	Status	Clarification & Correction	Confidence (1–5)
A Mexican naval training ship called Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge	✅ Correct	The collision occurred on May 17, 2025 at approximately 8:20 PM ET [1]	5
The ship was docked at Pier 17 before the incident	✅ Correct	The ship had been docked at Pier 17 for 5 days as part of a goodwill tour and was departing when the accident occurred [2]	5
The ship's masts broke during the collision	✅ Correct	The ship's three masts (which were about 160 feet tall) struck the bridge's underside and snapped [3]	5
The accident resulted in fatalities	✅ Correct	Two crew members died and 19 others were injured, with two in critical condition [4]	5
The ship was heading to Iceland	✅ Correct	The ship was disembarking from New York and heading to Iceland as part of its international tour [5]	5

⚠️ Errors and Corrections

Statement Issue Correction Correction Confidence (1–5)
The tweet implies no people fell when the masts broke ❌ Incorrect Two crew members fell from the masts and died, while others were left dangling in harnesses [1] 5
The tweet suggests there was "no splash of water from falling bodies" ❌ Incorrect No one fell into the water; injuries occurred on the ship itself [2] 5
The tweet implies there was "no screaming" during the accident 💭 Opinion Multiple videos captured the incident, with reports of people screaming and running from the walkway along the water [3] 4
Implication that something suspicious occurred ❌ Incorrect The accident was caused by mechanical failure - the ship lost power and/or had rudder failure according to officials [4] 5

Statement	Issue	Correction	Correction Confidence (1–5)
The tweet implies no people fell when the masts broke	❌ Incorrect	Two crew members fell from the masts and died, while others were left dangling in harnesses [1]	5
The tweet suggests there was "no splash of water from falling bodies"	❌ Incorrect	No one fell into the water; injuries occurred on the ship itself [2]	5
The tweet implies there was "no screaming" during the accident	💭 Opinion	Multiple videos captured the incident, with reports of people screaming and running from the walkway along the water [3]	4
Implication that something suspicious occurred	❌ Incorrect	The accident was caused by mechanical failure - the ship lost power and/or had rudder failure according to officials [4]	5

📌 Corrections Summary:

Casualties: Two crew members died after falling from the masts, not from falling into water. 19 others were injured with two in critical condition.
Rescue Operation: Some sailors were left dangling from harnesses in the air and needed to be rescued, but they didn't fall into water.
Mechanical Failure: The accident was caused by the ship losing power and/or experiencing rudder failure as it departed Pier 17, not by any suspicious circumstances.
Ship Height vs Bridge Height: The ship's main mast was approximately 160 feet tall while the Brooklyn Bridge has a navigational clearance of only 127 feet, making collision inevitable once the ship lost control.

📌 Potential Leads:

Statement Plausibility Possible Source
There may be additional video footage showing the moment of impact High Social media sources including videos cited in news reports
Investigation by NTSB may reveal more details about the mechanical failure High NTSB investigation is ongoing according to reports

Statement	Plausibility	Possible Source
There may be additional video footage showing the moment of impact	High	Social media sources including videos cited in news reports
Investigation by NTSB may reveal more details about the mechanical failure	High	NTSB investigation is ongoing according to reports

🛑 Assessment of Source Reliability:

Source Usefulness Assessment Notes Rating
Twitter post by @ItsJuliansRum ⚠️ Low reliability Contains factual element (Pier 17 location) but no context 2
Twitter reply by @HappyPawsTreats ⚠️ Very low reliability Contains speculation and incorrect information about the accident 1
Washington Post ✅ High reliability Professional reporting with multiple sources and context 5
CNN ✅ High reliability Detailed coverage with official statements and background 5
Reuters ✅ High reliability Factual reporting with technical details 5
ABC News ✅ High reliability Includes eyewitness accounts and official statements 4

Source	Usefulness Assessment	Notes	Rating
Twitter post by @ItsJuliansRum	⚠️ Low reliability	Contains factual element (Pier 17 location) but no context	2
Twitter reply by @HappyPawsTreats	⚠️ Very low reliability	Contains speculation and incorrect information about the accident	1
Washington Post	✅ High reliability	Professional reporting with multiple sources and context	5
CNN	✅ High reliability	Detailed coverage with official statements and background	5
Reuters	✅ High reliability	Factual reporting with technical details	5
ABC News	✅ High reliability	Includes eyewitness accounts and official statements	4

📗 Revised Summary (Corrected & Accurate):

On May 17, 2025, at approximately 8:20 PM, the Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City while departing from Pier 17 (CNN). The vessel, which was on a global goodwill tour and had been docked at Pier 17 for five days, experienced mechanical failure when the captain lost control after losing power and/or rudder functionality (Washington Post).

The ship's three masts, which stood approximately 160 feet tall (while the bridge has a clearance of only 127 feet), struck the underside of the bridge and snapped, causing debris to fall onto the deck (Reuters). Two crew members died after falling from the masts, and 19 others were injured, with two remaining in critical condition. Some sailors were left dangling from harnesses in the air waiting to be rescued (ABC News). The Brooklyn Bridge itself sustained no significant structural damage and was reopened after inspection.

🏅 What a Fact-Checker Might Say:

False. The tweet questioning the legitimacy of the Brooklyn Bridge accident makes incorrect claims and implications. Official reports confirm that two crew members died and 19 were injured when the Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtémoc struck the Brooklyn Bridge after experiencing mechanical failure. The suggestion that no one was harmed or that the incident was suspicious is contradicted by extensive news coverage, eyewitness videos, and statements from New York City officials and the Mexican government.

💡 Tip Suggestion:

When assessing claims about breaking news events, look for consistent reporting across multiple reputable news sources rather than relying on social media speculation. Official government statements, along with video evidence from multiple angles, can provide more reliable information than isolated social media posts that raise questions without evidence.

cnote

I'll create a context report and then a Twitter Community Note for this incident.

Core Context

The image shows a Mexican Navy training ship (Cuauhtémoc) that collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on May 17, 2025, after departing from Pier 17 in Manhattan (CNN)
The ship lost power and/or rudder control, causing it to veer into the bridge; its 160-foot masts hit the bridge, which has only 127-foot clearance (Washington Post)
Two crew members died and 19 were injured; some sailors were left dangling from harnesses high in the air awaiting rescue (ABC News)
The tweet incorrectly implies something suspicious about the lack of visible victims, when in fact fatalities occurred on the ship, not from falling into water (Reuters)
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident, which appears to have been caused by mechanical failure, not suspicious circumstances (CNN)

Expanded Context

What does this appear to be/how is it described online? This tweet thread presents a Google Maps image showing Pier 17 and the Brooklyn Bridge with the suggestion that something suspicious occurred during the Mexican ship accident. The original tweet asks "Guess where the Mexican ship was docked?" with "Pier 17" as the answer, while the reply tweet raises questions about the lack of visible victims during the accident, specifically asking why there was "no splash of water" and "no screaming" when people supposedly fell.

What does this mean to its primary audience/audiences online? To conspiracy-minded audiences, this tweet appears to cast doubt on the official narrative of the accident, suggesting the incident was somehow fabricated or didn't occur as reported. The phrasing and tone imply there should have been visible evidence of people falling if the accident was real, feeding into a broader pattern of questioning mainstream media accounts of events. The tweet leverages the genuine tragedy to sow unfounded doubt.

What is the actual story or deeper background? The Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtémoc was on a global goodwill tour and had been docked at Pier 17 for five days of public viewing. On May 17, 2025, at approximately 8:20 PM, as it was departing for Iceland, the ship experienced mechanical failure - losing power and/or rudder control. The vessel, whose main mast stood 160 feet tall, drifted toward the Brooklyn Bridge, which has a clearance of only 127 feet. The masts struck the underside of the bridge and snapped, causing debris to fall onto the deck (Washington Post). Two crew members died after falling from the masts onto the ship (not into the water), and 19 others were injured. Some sailors were left dangling from harnesses high in the air waiting to be rescued (CNN).

What does the actual picture/graphic look like? The image is simply a Google Maps screenshot showing Pier 17 and the Brooklyn Bridge area in New York City. It includes markers for "Pier 17," "Brooklyn Bridge," and "Brooklyn Bridge boat accident." While the image itself is accurate as a map representation, it doesn't reflect the actual accident scene. Real photos and videos of the incident show the tall ship with broken masts after the collision, crew members dangling from rigging, and emergency responders at the scene (ABC News).

What is (some of) the larger discourse context?

Social media often becomes a breeding ground for conspiracy theories after tragic events, where normal aspects of incidents are framed as suspicious
Questioning the absence of specific expected outcomes (like water splashes) demonstrates a misunderstanding of the actual circumstances
The rush to find suspicious patterns often occurs before complete information is available from official investigations
Tragedy-related conspiracy theories often disrespect victims while claiming to seek truth

What is (some of) the larger topical context? Maritime safety, Brooklyn Bridge history, mechanical failures, Mexican Navy, tall ships, navigational clearance, maritime accident investigation, emergency response protocols, conspiracy theories, maritime training vessels, social media misinformation

Twitter Community Note:

This tweet incorrectly implies something suspicious about the Brooklyn Bridge ship accident. The Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtémoc did collide with the bridge on May 17 after departing Pier 17, killing 2 crew members. No one fell into water - the fatalities occurred on the ship itself. Sailors were left dangling from harnesses as their masts broke. The accident was caused by mechanical failure (loss of power/rudder control).

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/17/us/manhattan-brooklyn-bridge-ship https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/05/17/brooklyn-bridge-crash-mexican-navy-ship/ https://abcnews.go.com/US/mexican-navy-sailboat-crashes-brooklyn-bridge-multiple-injuries/story?id=121916044 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mexican-navy-sailing-ship-crashes-into-brooklyn-bridge-19-injured-2025-05-18/