Mexico mourns naval cadets lost at sea

A funeral was held in San Mateo del Mar, Oaxaca, for 20-year-old sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, who tragically died when the Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on May 17. The accident occurred during a training cruise commemorating the "Bicentennial of Independence Consolidation at Sea," resulting in the deaths of Marcos and fellow cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, while injuring at least 20 others among the 277 sailors on board.

The Cuauhtémoc had just departed from a Manhattan pier for a global tour, with Iceland as its next destination, when it unintentionally drifted into the bridge after separating from its tugboat. The collision caused the ship's masts to snap, leading to the tragic loss of life. In Xalapa, mourners gathered to honor Sánchez, an accomplished athlete and final-year student at the Naval Academy, who was performing ceremonial duties at the time of the accident.

U.S. officials have launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on potential engine malfunctions and the role of the tugboat that assisted the ship. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is set to interview key personnel, including the tugboat pilot and the ship's captain. Inspections by the NYC Department of Transportation revealed no structural damage to the bridge.

The incident has sparked widespread mourning across Mexico, with national leaders and citizens expressing their condolences. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the loss of the two naval personnel, marking a somber turn for the Cuauhtémoc's mission, which is typically a celebration of cadet training and international goodwill. The ship, launched in 1982, is known for its annual transcontinental voyages, visiting multiple ports worldwide.