A tall ship belonging to the Mexican navy struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, cracking the boat's masts, sending them plummeting to the deck below, according to social media videos and police accounts.
The NYPD said officers responded to a 911 call around 8:30 regarding someone in need of assistance at Pier 17, on the Manhattan side of the East River by the South Street Seaport.
The masts of the Cuauhtemoc, an academy training vessel, which was eventually docked at the pier, struck the underside of the span's roadbed. The NYPD's Special Operations Harbor Unit aided with the rescue effort.
A police spokeswoman said that no damage was done to the bridge.
The three-masted Cuauhtemoc is on a promotional tour in New York City,
The Mexican navy said in a post on the social platform X that the sailing ship was damaged in an accident with the bridge that prevented it from continuing its voyage.
It added that the status of personnel and material was under review by naval and local authorities, which were providing assistance.
"The Secretary of the Navy renews its commitment to the safety of personnel, transparency in its operations and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican Armada," it said in Spanish.
Mayor Eric Adams was scheduled to give a news briefing after he assessed the damage.
It's unclear if anyone was injured or missing.
The NYPD has advised on social media that drivers should avoid the Brooklyn Bridge due to "a collision investigation" and a large emergency response.