Mexicans are mourning the death of two young naval cadets who were killed Saturday when the trained ship Cuauhtémoc fell into the Brooklyn Bridge.

América Sánchez, 20, and Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, 23, were 277 crew members on a Mexican naval sailing ship when their three masts hit the bridge.

According to Mexican media reports, Sanchez was one of the cadets standing on the mast at the time of the accident.

The Mexican Navy said 22 other crew members were injured, three of them critically.

Commander of Mexican Admiral Pedro Raymundo Morales said all crew members were good enough to travel to their homes.

The body of América Sánchez was scheduled to be at the Naval Academy in her hometown of Veracruz.

Her mother, Rocío Hernández, described the 20-year-old cadet as "the model daughter", who was a "dedicated student" with the goal of becoming a naval engineer.

Standing in front of an impromptu altar decorated with flowers and pictures of América Sánchez, dressed up for her "Quinceañera" marking her 15th birthday party, Ms. Hernández pays tribute to her daughter.

"She is a soldier, a soldier who has not given up and has been fighting for her goals," she said.

Ms Hernández said: "They (the Navy) will hold a private ceremony for her to honor her and I will take her home."

In the coastal town of San Mateo del Mar, the Oaxaca state, relatives and relatives of Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos have also paid tribute after confirming that the young cadet was identified as the second fatal victim of the crash.

His friends told local media that the 23-year-old has always dreamed of following in his father's footsteps and becoming a sailor.

They recalled that being on the ship, also known as the "Sea Knight", was his greatest wish.

A friend of the media added: “The sea saw him born, and the sea was a witness to his death.

An investigation into the occurrence of the accident is still underway.

New York police officials said it appears Cuauhtémoc lost power when he left the New York port and was currently dragged to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Its three masts weighed over 48 million and hit the base of the bridge, and the New York Transportation Department's website meets the bridge, with only 41.1 million.

All three masts collapsed, and videotapes shot by the bystanders showed some crew members hanging from the yard and sails.

Mexico's Navy Minister Raymundo Pedro Moralesáneles said in a statement that the results of any investigation will be cited as "full transparency and responsibility."

On April 6, Cuauhtémoc left Acapulco, Mexico on April 6, which included parking lots in New York and Aberdeen, Scotland to compete in the July tall ship race.