Mexico is in mourning following the heartbreaking deaths of two Navy cadets, América Sánchez and Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, who died when their training vessel collided with the Brooklyn Bridge. The incident, which injured 22 others, has left a profound impact on the country.
Tragedy Strikes as Mexican Navy Cadets Die in Brooklyn Bridge Incident
Tragedy Strikes as Mexican Navy Cadets Die in Brooklyn Bridge Incident
A heartfelt memorial unfolds in Mexico for two Navy cadets who lost their lives in a tragic ship crash in New York.
Mexico is grieving the loss of two young Navy cadets who tragically died during a sailing accident involving the training ship ARM Cuauhtémoc on Saturday. The cadets, 20-year-old América Sánchez and 23-year-old Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, were among the crew onboard when the ship crashed into Brooklyn Bridge during its departure from New York Harbor. In a devastating moment, the ship's masts broke off upon impact, resulting in the deaths of these promising individuals.
Reports indicate that Sánchez was stationed high in the rigging at the time of the crash, which left 22 crew members injured, three of them critically. The commander of the Mexican Navy, Admiral Pedro Raymundo Morales, has announced that remaining crew members fit to travel will return to Mexico shortly. América’s body will be taken back to her home state of Veracruz, where a private memorial will be held at the Naval Academy in her honor.
Her mother, Rocío Hernández, honored her daughter’s legacy, describing her as "an exemplary daughter" with aspirations of becoming a naval engineer and celebrating her life in heartfelt tributes. Fellow cadet and close friend, Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, was similarly honored in his hometown of San Mateo del Mar in Oaxaca. He was remembered by friends as an ambitious individual who had long desired a career in the navy, echoing the legacy of his father.
An ongoing investigation by New York police is attempting to ascertain details surrounding the accident, which appears to have occurred when the Cuauhtémoc lost power and drifted into the bridge. The ship’s towering masts, over 48 meters high, struck the bridge, which only has a clearance of 41.1 meters. In light of these tragic events, Mexico's Navy Secretary has committed to transparency during the investigation process. The Cuauhtémoc had embarked on a journey from Acapulco, Mexico, featuring international ports, including stops in New York and Scotland's Tall Ships race in July.
