No distress calls came from the Mexican Navy tall ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend before the collision, Mexico's Navy chief said.

Two crew members aboard a Mexican Navy sailing ship died on Saturday night when the vessel drifted into the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge, smashing its masts and rigging.

The accident occurred when the majestic white training vessel Cuauhtémoc was departing from lower Manhattan's Pier 17 on the East River shortly after sunset on Saturday.