Audio reveals moments before cargo ship rammed into Baltimore bridge

Dispatch audio from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police provides insight into the moments before the container ship Dali rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor. 

At 1:25 a.m. on Tuesday, the Dali veered off course after losing power and headed toward one of the bridge's support pillars, the Baltimore Banner reported. 

Two minutes later, a transportation authority officer could be heard saying, "I need one of you guys on the south side, one of you guys on the north side, hold all traffic on the Key Bridge. There's a ship approaching that just lost their steering so until we get that under control, we've got to stop all traffic.”

At 1:29 a.m., an officer is heard saying in the police dispatch audio that, "The whole bridge just fell down! Start whoever, everybody — the whole bridge just collapsed!"

Here is an updated timeline of events that occurred on March 26, 2024.