Loading ...Single loose wire caused Baltimore bridge collapse that could cost Maryland $5.2B to replace
NTSB blames Maryland officials for failing to assess Francis Scott Key Bridge vulnerability to ship strikes
The NTSB’s final report found that a single misinstalled wire led to a total power loss that left the Dali without propulsion or steering moments before impact. “The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the contact of the container ship Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a loss of electrical power blackout due to a loose signal wire connection to a terminal block stemming from the improper installation of wireless label banding,” the board said.
Investigators said the crew reacted quickly to the blackout but had too little time to restore power before the vessel struck the bridge. The ship’s proximity to the span, combined with delays in restarting its systems, made the collision unavoidable.