NTSB Identifies Loose Wire as Cause of Key Bridge Collapse

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have determined that a single loose wire caused the power outages on the cargo ship Dali, leading to its collision with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024. The incident resulted in the bridge's collapse and the deaths of six construction workers.

The NTSB's findings indicate that the loose wire led to two power blackouts, causing the Dali to lose propulsion and steering just minutes before the collision. Despite the crew's appropriate and timely actions, the proximity to the bridge left insufficient time to prevent the crash.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy, stating, "This tragedy should have never occurred. Lives should have never been lost. As with all accidents that we investigate, this was preventable."

In response to the findings, Maryland officials have revised the estimated cost and timeline for rebuilding the Key Bridge. The new financial forecast sets the cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, more than double the earlier $1.9 billion estimate, with an anticipated completion date pushed to late 2030.

The NTSB also highlighted the need for improved safety assessments and infrastructure reinforcement to prevent similar incidents in the future.