New York City Mayor Eric Adams says 19 others were injured in the collision, but the bridge spared substantial damage.

A Mexican Navy sailing ship has crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, killing at least two people and injuring 19 others, according to the city’s mayor, Eric Adams.

“At this time, of the 277 on board, 19 sustained injuries, 2 of which remain in critical condition, and 2 more have sadly passed away from their injuries,” Adams posted on X on Sunday.

The ship snapped all three of its masts as it collided with the New York City landmark late on Saturday. Adams, however, said the 142-year-old bridge was spared significant damage.

Videos posted online show the ship sailing underneath the bridge, connecting the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan, as the top of its three masts collide with the iconic structure.

The masts can be seen snapping and partially collapsing as they crash into the deck of the bridge.

The vessel, which was flying a giant green, white and red Mexican flag, then drifted towards the edge of the river as onlookers scrambled away from the shore.

Sailors could be seen aloft in the rigging on the damaged masts.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz told The Associated Press news agency they were sitting outside to watch the sunset when they saw the vessel strike the bridge and one of its masts snap. Looking closer, they saw someone dangling high on the ship.

“We saw someone dangling, and I couldn’t tell if it was just blurry or my eyes, and we were able to zoom in on our phone and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for, like, at least like 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them,” Katz said.

They said they saw two people removed from the ship on stretchers into smaller boats.

‘Deeply saddened’

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was “deeply saddened” by the loss of the two crew members. “Our solidarity and support go out to their families,” she said on X.

The Mexican Navy said in a post on X that the Cuauhtemoc, an academy training vessel, was damaged in an accident with the Brooklyn Bridge, which prevented it from continuing its voyage.

It added that the status of personnel and material was under review by naval and local authorities, who were providing assistance.

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X that its ambassador to the United States and officials from the Mexican consulate in New York were in contact with local authorities to provide assistance to “the affected cadets”, but it did not mention injuries.

The Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883, has a nearly 1,600-foot (490-metre) main span supported by two masonry towers.

More than 100,000 vehicles and an estimated 32,000 pedestrians cross the bridge every day, according to the city’s transport department, and its walkway is a major tourist attraction.