U.S. federal prosecutors have charged an Indian engineer and two shipping companies in connection with the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, a disaster that killed six construction workers and caused billions of dollars in economic damage.
The indictment names Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, a 47-year-old Indian national who served as technical superintendent of the cargo ship Dali, along with Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd and Chennai-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd.
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Federal prosecutors allege the companies and Nair ignored known electrical and mechanical issues aboard the Dali, failed properly to report hazardous conditions, and later obstructed investigations by U.S. authorities.
The Dali, a Singapore-flagged container vessel, lost power twice shortly after departing Baltimore’s port on March 26, 2024, before crashing into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at approximately 1:30 a.m. The collision triggered the collapse of major sections of the bridge into the Patapsco River.
Six road construction workers repairing potholes on the bridge were killed in the collapse. Most of the victims were Latino immigrant workers employed on overnight maintenance operations.
According to prosecutors, the second blackout aboard the ship occurred because operators used a fuel pump system not designed to reset after the automatic first power failure. Investigators said the vessel would likely have regained steering capability had the proper backup systems been used.
“As alleged, the bridge was struck and collapsed because those responsible for the ship’s operation deliberately cut corners at the expense of safety,” FBI Baltimore Special Agent Jimmy Paul said during a press briefing.
The charges include conspiracy, obstruction of federal investigations, failure to notify the U.S. Coast Guard about hazardous conditions, and making false statements to investigators. Environmental violations tied to pollution discharged into the river were also included in the indictment.
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The disaster temporarily shut down one of America’s busiest ports and disrupted East Coast shipping routes for weeks. Officials estimate that total economic and infrastructure losses could exceed $5 billion, with bridge replacement expected to continue until at least 2030.
The case has also drawn attention in India because of the involvement of Indian maritime personnel and companies in one of the deadliest infrastructure failures in recent U.S. history.
Legal experts say the criminal charges signal an unusually aggressive move by the U.S. government against maritime operators, reflecting growing pressure for accountability after major industrial disasters.
The companies have previously argued that some failures aboard the vessel were beyond their control and criticized the prolonged detention of crew members involved in the investigation. Further court proceedings are expected later this year in federal court in Maryland.