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left six dead and crippled the port — was “entirely preventable,” faulting ship failures, Maryland oversight gaps, and outdated protections on critical infrastructure.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