A ship carrying 277 people has collided with the Brooklyn Bridge as it was passing beneath the iconic structure, igniting a rescue operation. 

Jaw-dropping footage posted online shows the moment a Mexican Navy training ship’s 147-foot mast collided with the bridge just before 9pm on Saturday night. 

It appears Navy personnel were standing on the masts as the tragedy struck.

The vessel is believed to have experienced some kind of mechanical difficulty that caused the captain to lose control.  

A search and rescue operation in the East River have been launched. 

It is understood at least four people are in critical condition and a total of 19 were injured, officials said.

Victims are being taken to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Those who have suffered injuries are been transported to local hospitals. 

The Coast Guard confirmed to DailyMail.com emergency efforts are currently underway.  

Shocked onlookers could be seen gathering on the nearby pier watching the horrifying moment unfold. 

‘That sh*t’s about to crash,’ one terrified witness exclaimed as the boat, bearing a large Mexican flag, was seconds away from disaster. 

‘Oh sh*t!’ he screamed as people flocked away from the pier when the boat, named the Cuauhtémo, collided with the bridge – causing the masts to plummet onto the deck and sending passengers into the water. 

‘I thought it was maybe some sort of a terrorist attack,’ Aaron Travis, visiting from Texas, told DailyMail.com. 

Another witness added: ‘As long as I’ve lived I’ve never seen anything crash into the Brooklyn bridge.’ 

Those standing along the masts were seen dangling from the beams, trying to save themselves from plunging nearly 150 feet into the water. 

‘The boat was coming under the bridge, and there were sailors on top of the boat, the sails hit the bridge and then people were falling off of the boat sails,’ a Texan tourist who witnessed the accident, Elijah West, told the New York Post. 

‘I believe they were trying to do like a little show. It’s the Mexican Navy. It was crazy, though, yeah. We were standing under the bridge and we all started running.’

Emergency services swarmed the area. EMS officials were seen rushing injured cadets into ambulances. Divers have also arrived at the scene. 

A bystander at the scene told DailyMail.com the emergency response was ‘insane’ and said boats continue to check the water. 

In an X statement, the Mexican Navy explained in Spanish: ‘During the sailing maneuver of the Cuauhtémoc sailboat in New York, a mishap occurred with the Brooklyn Bridge, causing damage to the training ship, preventing the continuation of the training cruise for the time being.

‘The status of personnel and equipment is being reviewed by naval and local authorities, who are providing support. 

‘The Navy reaffirms its commitment to personnel safety, transparency in its operations, and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican Navy.’ 

During a press conference, NYC Mayor Eric Adams was joined by Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and other safety officials.

‘It is a unified effort to make sure that we look after all of those who were on the ship,’ Adams said. 

Rodriguez confirmed there was no major damage to the bridge connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn.  

The Brooklyn bridge was closed in both directions, but it has since reopened, according to NYC emergency officials.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.  

This is a breaking news story. More to come.