The NTSB has concluded that a single loose wire in the cargo ship Dali’s electrical system triggered the dual blackouts that caused its March 2024 collision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six workers and destroying the span. Investigators found the wire had not been fully inserted due to label banding, causing a breaker to trip and leading to loss of propulsion and steering. The board also faulted the absence of required vulnerability assessments and impact-protection measures for the bridge, whose replacement cost has soared to up to $5.2 billion with a delayed 2030 opening. The NTSB issued new recommendations for switchboard inspections, blackout-recovery improvements, and proper wire installation, while calling on major bridge owners to adopt emergency motorist-warning systems.
