Mexico grieve the Navy Cadets

The Mexicans mourned the death of two young naval cadets that were killed on Saturday when the training tall ship Cuauhtémoc crashed into Brooklyn Bridge.

America Sanchez, 20 and 23-year-old Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, were among 277 crew members aboard the Mexican Navy sailing ship when his three masts clicked when they hit the bridge.

According to Mexican media, Sanchez was one of the cadets standing at the top of the rigging during the incident.

Twenty -two other crew members were injured, three of them critically, the Mexican Navy said.

The commander of the Mexican Navy, Admiral Pedro Ramundo Morales, said that all crew members would be well enough to travel, would be returned back to their homeland soon.

América Sáncez’s body is intended to be moved to the Naval Academy in her hometown of Veracreus later on Monday.

Her mother, Rosio Hernandez, described the 20-year-old cadet as an “sample daughter”, who was a “dedicated student” who aims to become a naval engineer.

Standing in front of an impromptu altar, decorated with flowers and photos of America Sanchez, dressed for her “Quinceañera”, celebrating her 15th birthday, and Da Hernandez paid tribute to his daughter.

“She was a warrior, a soldier who did not give up, who always struggled for her goals,” she said, adding that her daughter had only one year until her graduation.

“They (the Navy) will hold a private ceremony in her honor at the Naval Academy of Veracruus for her and then I will take her,” said G -Hernandez, thank all the relatives, friends and teachers of her daughter, who she asked for “remember her (America) with affection.”

In San Matteo del Mar, a coastal city in Oaksaka, friends and relatives of Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos also gave their respect after the young cadet was confirmed as the second fatal victim of the crash.

His friends told the local media that the 23-year-old had always dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a sailor.

As on board Cuauhtémoc, also known as the “Knight of the Seas,” was his biggest wish, they recalled.

“The sea saw him born, and the sea witnessed his passage,” a friend of the media, adding that “all who knew him will remember him as a model of imitation of intelligent youth.”

The investigation into how the accident happened is still underway.

“This is the beginning of a long process,” said Michael Graham of the National Transport Safety Council (NTSB) during a Monday briefing. “We will not draw any conclusions, we will not speculate.”

Mr. Graham said there was no “significant structural damage” of the elements carrying a load on the Brooklyn Bridge.

His colleague Brian Young provided a preliminary time line of events on the night of May 17.

• At 20:20 local time (00:20 GMT), thehe Cuauhtémoc pulled away from PI 17 to Manhattan with the assistance of a boat. He intended to sail south along the east river before heading for the sea, said
• After leaving for the harbor, the movement of the ship in Astern (back) and the speed increased to 6 nodes
• At 20:24 Radio broadcasting is voiced with a request for help from other tractors in the area. Followed by two other requests
• At 20:24 and 45 secondsThehe Cuauhtémoc mast hit the underside of the bridge
• At 20:27 The ship stopped
• From 20:30Police and Firefighters in New York arrived on the spot

Earlier, New York police officers said Cuauhtémoc had lost power as he left the port of New York and was dragged to the Brooklyn Bridge to the present.

Its three masts, measuring more than 48 meters, hit the base of the bridge, which – according to the New York Department website – has only 41.1 m permission.

All three masts collapsed and video footage made by observers show some of the crew members hanging from the yards and pay.

G -n -Graham said his team would examine the condition of the engine during their investigation.

“On behalf of NTSB, I want to express my most recent condolences to the families and relatives of those who have lost their lives in this terrible tragedy,” he said.

The Navy Secretary at Mexico Ramundo Pedro Morales Angels said in a statement that the results of each investigation will be followed by “complete transparency and responsibility”.

Cuauhtémoc left Acapulco, Mexico, on April 6th on a tour that included stops in New York and Aberdeen, Scotland, for the high -ship high -ship competition in July.