Federal Probe Blames Loose Wire, Missing Risk Assessment for Deadly Key Bridge Collapse

NTSB says the Baltimore disaster — which left six dead and crippled the port — was “entirely preventable,” faulting ship failures, Maryland oversight gaps, and outdated protections on critical infrastructure.

WASHINGTON | A loose signal wire aboard a massive cargo ship and Maryland’s failure to conduct a critical vulnerability study were the primary factors behind the Francis Scott Key Bridge catastrophe that killed six people and shut down one of America’s busiest ports, according to federal investigators.

In a highly anticipated briefing Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its most direct condemnation yet of the 2024 tragedy, describing a cascade of preventable failures that culminated in the collapse of the iconic Baltimore bridge.

“This tragedy should have never occurred. Lives should have never been lost,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said. “As with all accidents we investigate, this was preventable.”

A Single Loose Wire Set Off a Chain Reaction of Failures

Investigators outlined a chilling timeline:

• A loose signal wire caused the Dali cargo ship to lose electrical power twice in the minutes before impact.
• The engine shut down moments before the ship veered into a bridge support column.
• The 984-foot Singapore-flagged vessel struck the structure at full momentum, triggering a catastrophic collapse.

“One loose wire brought down an entire bridge,” one maritime investigator said, calling the vulnerability “unacceptable for vessels of this size.”

The NTSB recommended that ships adopt infrared thermal imaging during inspections, noting that visually checking thousands of wires is “extremely labor intensive” and often ineffective.

Maryland Failed to Conduct a Required Risk Assessment

The probe leveled equally serious criticism at Maryland transportation officials.

According to investigators:

• Maryland had not conducted a vulnerability study on the Key Bridge, despite national guidance urging such reviews.
• Had the study been performed, countermeasures — including protective barriers — could have been installed.
• Those defenses likely would have prevented the collapse or significantly reduced the scale of destruction.

“Contributing to the collapse of the Key Bridge and the loss of life was the lack of countermeasures,” the NTSB said in its findings.

When asked why Maryland never conducted the assessment, investigators said, “We do not know.”

Neither Gov. Wes Moore’s office nor the Maryland Transportation Authority responded to requests for comment.

Bridge Workers Had Just 89 Seconds — and No Warning

Perhaps most devastating was the revelation that highway workers on the bridge were not notified of the emergency until it was too late.

NTSB engineer Scott Parent said they could have had 1 minute and 29 seconds to escape had communications been immediate.

“Effective and immediate communication … is critical to ensuring the safety of bridge workers,” he said.

Crew Response Made No Difference

The Justice Department previously reached a $100 million settlement with the ship’s owner and operator — Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Maritime PTE.

But the NTSB stressed that despite the crew reacting in a “timely” manner, the propulsion loss came too close to the bridge for any human intervention to succeed.

A Broader National Warning — 13 Bridges Now Over Risk Threshold

The Key Bridge collapse prompted a nationwide review of maritime infrastructure.

Of the 68 bridges flagged for assessment across 19 states:

• Just over half have completed reviews.
• 13 bridges exceed the risk threshold, including:
• Betsy Ross Bridge (PA/NJ)
• Walt Whitman Bridge (PA/NJ)
• Huey P. Long Bridge (LA)
• Both spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (MD)

“These are not hypothetical risks,” said NTSB safety chief Brandi Baldwin. “They require immediate mitigation.”

Rebuild Costs Surge Past $5 Billion

The price to rebuild the bridge has skyrocketed:

• Original estimate: $1.7–$1.9 billion
• New estimate: up to $5.2 billion

Construction has also been pushed back from 2028 to late 2030.

Though federal law requires Washington to cover 100% of the rebuild, several Republican lawmakers are voicing concerns about escalating costs.

A Final Report Coming Soon

The board’s final report is expected within weeks and will likely include new safety mandates for large commercial vessels — which investigators warn are “increasingly larger” and increasingly hazardous to aging American infrastructure.

“This is a national wake-up call,” one maritime safety expert said. “If a single loose wire can take down a major American bridge, we are not prepared for the next disaster.”

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-- By Jessica Perry

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