The National Transportation Safety Board Chair stated that at this stage of the investigation, it is too early to confirm reports of a power outage on the ship. The Chair mentioned being aware of the reports and media releases from Singapore regarding the power outage but emphasized the need to verify this information through the ongoing investigation to determine if it was a contributing factor to the incident.
Earlier on Tuesday, Maryland Governor Wes Moore revealed that the ship's crew had informed officials about the loss of power before the crash occurred. Witnesses reported seeing lights flickering on the ship and a dark plume of smoke emanating from it just before it veered towards a bridge pillar and ultimately collided.
The sequence of events leading up to the crash, including the reported power outage, is under scrutiny as part of the investigation. The NTSB Chair's cautious approach underscores the importance of thorough verification before drawing conclusions about the cause of the incident.