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NTSB Report Highlights Systemic Failures Leading to Baltimore Key Bridge Collapse

The investigation revealed negligence by the Maryland Transportation Authority and the Dali’s owners, with recommendations for broader infrastructure assessments across the U.S.

FILE - The fallen Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is pictured March 31, 2024, where divers assisted crews with the complicated and meticulous operation of removing steel and concrete. (AP Photos/Mike Pesoli, file)
A U.S. Coast Guard boat approaches clean-up operations at the Francis Scott Key Bridge as the main shipping channel prepares to fully reopen, in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
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National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy testifies at a Congressional hearing on the response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, MD on May 15, 2024. Homendy told reporters Thursday that bridge owners failed to understand key vulnerabilities.

Overview

  • The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed on March 26, 2024, after the container ship Dali struck a support column, killing six construction workers.
  • The Maryland Transportation Authority failed to conduct a risk assessment, leaving the bridge 30 times above acceptable risk levels for vessel collisions, according to NTSB findings.
  • The Dali experienced electrical failures linked to cost-cutting and negligence by its owners, who settled with the U.S. Justice Department for $102 million in October 2024.
  • The NTSB identified 68 other U.S. bridges requiring vulnerability assessments and recommended forming a federal team to assist bridge owners in reducing risks.
  • Reconstruction of the Key Bridge began in early 2025, with federal funding covering the $1.9 billion cost, and completion expected by 2028.