Feds Finally Reveal Why Baltimore's Key Bridge Collapsed

The collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge looked simple from the outside: a massive container ship lost power, struck a bridge pier, and brought the structure down. But the NTSB investigation revealed a much more complicated chain of events. The Dali suffered a power failure linked to a poorly seated electrical connection, leaving the ship without propulsion or steering at a critical moment. When the pier failed, the bridge's fracture-critical design allowed the collapse to propagate through the main structure. Investigators also found that the bridge's vessel-collision protection was inadequate for modern mega-ships and that six construction workers did not receive a timely warning before the collapse. The investigation ultimately prompted a wider examination of bridge safety and vessel-strike risks across the United States.