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Faulty wiring on cargo ship linked to 2024 Baltimore bridge collapse, NTSB finds
A loose electrical cable on the Dali container ship triggered a power failure that likely caused the deadly collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, U.S. investigators concluded Tuesday. The disaster, which killed six construction workers, was "preventable," according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Critical communication failure
Police monitoring the bridge were alerted that the Dali had deviated from its course but failed to notify the on-site construction inspector, the NTSB revealed. Had the workers received the same warning, investigators estimated they would have had **one minute and 29 seconds** to escape-potentially enough time to reach a section of the bridge that remained intact.
"This tragedy should have never occurred," NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stated during the hearing. "Lives should have never been lost."
Chain of failures
The NTSB's year-long probe identified multiple contributing factors: the electrical blackout caused by the faulty cable, a malfunctioning fuel pump, and the bridge's lack of protective measures to withstand such an impact. The findings align with a 2024 preliminary report that had already flagged the cable issue as the probable cause of the power loss moments before the collision.
Economic and logistical fallout
The collapse disrupted operations at the Port of Baltimore, a critical U.S. shipping hub, and severed a key interstate route. Initial repair estimates of **$1.9 billion** and a 2028 completion date have since ballooned to **$5 billion**, with work now expected to finish by **2030**, Maryland officials announced Monday.
"Trade policies out of Washington, D.C. have raised prices on everything-including essential materials we need to rebuild," said Governor Wes Moore (D-Md.). "Still, our resolve is unwavering."
What's next
The NTSB reviewed its safety recommendations during the hearing, though specific updates were not detailed. The agency's full report is expected in the coming months.
