A Singapore-flagged freighter collided with one of the pillars of the structure, the largest of its kind in Baltimore. The cargo ship, named Dali, flagged by Singapore and 948 feet long (288.9 meters), caught fire after the collision.

The city's mayor, Brendon Scott, reported on X that he was en route to the crash site, as were emergency crews. The Francis Scott Key Bridge is 1.6 miles long (2.5 kilometers) and spans both banks of the Patapsco River.