Faulty Wire on Cargo Ship Led to 2024 Baltimore Bridge Collapse: NTSB

Baltimore, Nov 19, 2025 — A loose wire on a cargo ship may have triggered the deadly 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, U.S. investigators revealed on Tuesday. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the disaster, which claimed six lives, was preventable.

The Dali container ship collided with a bridge pillar on the night of March 26, 2024, leaving six construction workers dead and causing several vehicles to plunge into the icy waters of the Patapsco River. The incident also severely disrupted traffic and shipping at the Port of Baltimore, closing a key interstate and creating widespread economic consequences.

During a hearing on Tuesday, NTSB investigators explained that a faulty electrical cable on the Dali caused a sudden power outage that may have led to the ship veering off course. "This tragedy should have never occurred. Lives should have never been lost," NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said, emphasizing that the incident was preventable.

Police at the bridge had been alerted that the ship was off course but did not notify the construction team’s inspector. Investigators noted that had the workers received a timely warning, they might have had approximately one minute and 29 seconds to evacuate to safer portions of the bridge before the collision. NTSB engineer Scott Parent said this timeframe could have been sufficient to prevent fatalities.

The NTSB investigation cited multiple contributing factors, including the power failure from the faulty wire, issues with the ship’s fuel pump, and the absence of countermeasures to reduce the bridge’s vulnerability to such impacts. These findings confirmed an earlier 2024 preliminary report that had already suggested electrical issues as a likely cause of the blackout aboard the Dali.

The bridge collapse has had massive economic implications. Initial repair estimates projected costs around $1.9 billion with completion by 2028. However, recent updates now estimate repair costs closer to $5 billion, with reconstruction expected to continue until 2030. Maryland Governor Wes Moore highlighted that rising national material costs have contributed to the escalating expenses. “Trade policies out of Washington, D.C. have raised prices on everything—including essential materials we need to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Still, despite this new economic reality, our resolve is unwavering,” Moore stated.

The 2024 incident remains one of the deadliest bridge collapses in U.S. history, highlighting critical gaps in infrastructure safety and emergency communication protocols. The NTSB’s recommendations following the investigation are expected to guide future safety standards for both maritime navigation and bridge construction, aiming to prevent similar tragedies.

This investigation underscores the importance of rigorous maintenance of electrical systems on cargo ships, timely emergency alerts, and enhanced structural safeguards on critical infrastructure. Families affected by the collapse continue to mourn the loss of the six workers, while Baltimore faces the ongoing challenge of rebuilding one of its most vital transportation links.