The NTSB will hold a public hearing to determine the probable cause of the March 2024 collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge after the cargo ship Dali struck it, killing six. Investigators are examining repeated electrical outages on the Dali, including a blackout minutes before the impact, and the FBI has opened a criminal probe. The board has called for urgent vulnerability assessments of 68 bridges in 19 states. Maryland now estimates the replacement bridge will cost $4.3–$5.2 billion and open in late 2030, up from an earlier $1.7–$1.9 billion estimate.
NTSB to Hold Public Hearing on Fatal Key Bridge Collapse as Investigators Probe Ship Power Failures
The NTSB will hold a public hearing to determine the probable cause of the March 2024 collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge after the cargo ship Dali struck it, killing six. Investigators are examining repeated electrical outages on the Dali, including a blackout minutes before the impact, and the FBI has opened a criminal probe. The board has called for urgent vulnerability assessments of 68 bridges in 19 states. Maryland now estimates the replacement bridge will cost $4.3–$5.2 billion and open in late 2030, up from an earlier $1.7–$1.9 billion estimate.
05:14 PM, 11/18/2025Security
NTSB to seek probable cause for Key Bridge collapse
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a public hearing Tuesday to determine the probable cause of the March 2024 collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was struck by the cargo ship Dali and killed six people.
National safety review prompted
The incident prompted the NTSB to call for urgent safety assessments of 68 bridges across 19 states, naming high-profile spans such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge and the George Washington Bridge. The review targets crossings built before 1991 that are frequented by ocean-going vessels and have not undergone formal vulnerability assessments.
Key lines of inquiry
Investigators are focusing on why the Dali experienced multiple electrical power losses before the collision, including a blackout during in-port maintenance and another shortly before impact. The NTSB reported that electrical breakers unexpectedly tripped about four minutes before the crash, cutting power to shipboard lighting and most equipment when the vessel was roughly 0.6 mile (1 km) from the bridge.
The crash of a Mexican Navy training ship into the Brooklyn Bridge in May has further heightened concerns about the vulnerability of major crossings to vessel collisions, underscoring calls for updated protections and assessments.
Replacement bridge and costs
A replacement span was originally estimated at $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion and expected to open by late 2028. On Monday, Maryland officials said the projected cost has risen to $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion and that the new bridge is now expected to open in late 2030. Officials attributed the increase to a new pier-protection system and a longer, higher design.
"We remain committed to rebuilding as safely, quickly, and efficiently as possible," Maryland Governor Wes Moore said, while also expressing disappointment at the extended timetable.
In September, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy raised concerns about the project's rising cost. Separately, the FBI opened a criminal investigation into the collapse in April 2024.
Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Lincoln Feast.