Authorities have confirmed that a catastrophic software malfunction triggered the cargo vessel’s collision with the Brooklyn Bridge early Tuesday morning, killing two and leaving a 40-foot section of the structure in ruin.
According to a live update from NBC New York, the vessel’s navigation controls experienced a “total guidance blackout” just minutes before impact. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the ship’s autopilot system—recently upgraded—malfunctioned without alerting the crew.
The vessel, a Panamanian-flagged freighter named Ocean Starlight, veered off course and slammed directly into the bridge’s eastern support column around 4:40 AM. A chilling video from a nearby cyclist’s GoPro, shared by Breaking911, shows the moment of impact in terrifying clarity.
Two crew members, both Filipino nationals, were killed instantly in the engine room. Their names have not yet been released. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed in a public statement that they are coordinating repatriation with the Philippine consulate.
A survivor told CNN that the ship “started turning hard left for no reason,” and they “couldn’t override it manually.” This account was backed by leaked communications obtained by ProPublica, showing a cascade of digital system failures in the final five minutes.
Mayor Eric Adams arrived at the site before sunrise and addressed the press, calling the collision “a haunting reminder of our infrastructure’s vulnerability.” His full statement was posted on X and has already drawn over 2 million views.
Structural engineers from the NYDOT estimate it could take up to four months to fully restore the damaged portion of the bridge. A viral TikTok clip posted by @NYCStreetScenes shows steel girders twisted like licorice.
Federal investigators are now focusing on the ship’s Norwegian-built navigation module, which had been flagged during a routine audit in Singapore six weeks ago. The warning report, published by The Maritime Executive, had noted “erratic behavior under stress load.”
In a grim twist, maritime unions are blaming cost-cutting practices. “This was bound to happen,” said one retired captain interviewed by The Wall Street Journal. “They’re running billion-dollar vessels on bargain-bin software.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a full emergency review of all incoming maritime freight into New York Harbor. She told The New York Times that she’s “furious” such outdated technology was allowed through regulatory gaps.
A ship tracker image released by MarineTraffic shows the vessel’s final erratic movements, deviating sharply from its intended lane near Governor’s Island.
Grief is pouring in online. A memorial GoFundMe for the families of the two deceased seamen, created by the ship’s crew union, was shared by @SeafarersUnion and has already raised over $45,000 in less than 12 hours.
