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A container ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, destroying the span in a matter of seconds and plunging it into the river in a terrifying collapse that could disrupt a vital shipping port for months. Six people remained unaccounted for on Tuesday afternoon as the search for survivors continued.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the operators of the ship issued a mayday call moments before the crash that took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, enabling authorities to limit vehicle traffic entering the span.
"We're thankful that between the mayday and collapse that we had officials who were able to begin the stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not up on the bridge," Moore said, adding that the warning likely saved lives.
The six people still unaccounted for were part of a construction crew filling potholes on the bridge, said Paul Wiedefeld, the state's transportation secretary.
Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, the company that employed the construction workers, said the crew was working in the middle of the bridge when it came apart.
“This was so completely unforeseen,” Pritzker said. “We don’t know what else to say. We take such great pride in safety, and we have cones and signs and lights and barriers and flaggers. But we never foresaw that the bridge would collapse.”
Moore said Tuesday afternoon that the search and rescue operation was still ongoing.
The ship crashed into one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to break apart like a toy. It tumbled into the water in a matter of seconds — a shocking spectacle that was captured on video and posted on social media. The vessel caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.
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“Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy."
Earlier, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that sees more than 30,000 cars a day. Along with the Port of Baltimore, it is a hub for shipping on the East Coast. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The collapse is almost sure to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore and snarling cargo and commuter traffic.
In a radio transmission to the Baltimore Fire Department, an official can be heard saying, "The entire bridge, the entire Key bridge is in the water."
Moore declared a state of emergency and said there was “no credible evidence” that terrorism was involved.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is gathering information and will lead the investigation into the collision and collapse of the bridge. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said their agency is assembling teams of experts who will look into the owners and operators of the ship, the safety history of the ship and bridge and more, but at the moment efforts were still focused on the search for those still missing and on providing support to those impacted by the incident.
President Joe Biden said in remarks from the White House that he expects the federal government to pay for the “entire cost” of rebuilding the bridge, and called on Congress to support his efforts to fund the repairs.
Asked by a reporter whether the company who owns the container ship should shoulder the costs, Biden said he didn't want to "wait for that to happen."
"We're going to pay for it, to get the bridge rebuilt and reopened," Biden said.
The president also offered prayers and condolences to the families of the missing workers who are still awaiting word on their their loved ones.
“I know every minute in that circumstance feels like a lifetime,” Biden said.
Bobby Haines, who lives nearby the bridge in Dundalk, said he felt the impact of the bridge collapse from his house.
"I woke up at 1:30 this morning and my house shook and I was freaking out," Haines said in an interview with NBC News. "I thought it was an earthquake and to find out it was a bridge is really, really scary."
Synergy Marine Group — which owns and manages the ship called the “Dali” — confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while two pilots were in control. It said all crew members, including the pilots, were accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries.
The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. The container ship is about 985 feet long and about 157 feet wide, according to the website.
From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.
Danish shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered the vessel, which was carrying its customers’ cargo. No Maersk crew and personnel were on board. The collapse caused Maersk share at the Nasdaq Copenhagen to plummet 2% in early Tuesday trading.
