Top 13 Craziest Crane Collapses: What Went Wrong?

When you see cranes towering above city skylines, you usually think of progress and development. But behind every crane operation is a reality many don’t consider: the incredible risks involved.

Many of the world’s worst crane collapses stem from preventable issues. These include poor planning, overlooked warnings, rushed procedures, or failure to respond to changing conditions on-site.

Let’s take a closer look at 13 of the most infamous crane collapses worldwide and the lessons they continue to teach the industry on construction risk management.

1. St Petersburg Crane Collapse (Florida, USA, 2024)

On October 9, 2024, a tower crane collapsed in downtown St. Petersburg during Hurricane Milton, crashing into the Tampa Bay Times building. The crane was part of the 400 Central project and failed amid wind gusts over 120 mph. The building sustained major damage, but no injuries occurred, thanks to early evacuation.

The incident exposed a significant issue: Florida has no laws requiring cranes to be secured or lowered before hurricanes. Local governments lack the authority to enforce safety measures, leaving decisions up to individual contractors.

Despite rapid coastal development and growing storm risks, crane safety in extreme weather remains unregulated statewide. The collapse has renewed calls for Florida to implement enforceable standards for crane operations in hurricane conditions.

2. Fort Lauderdale Crane Crash (Florida, USA, 2024)

A tower crane collapsed while being extended on Southeast 3rd Avenue Bridge in downtown Fort Lauderdale on April 4, 2024. The operation—known as “stepping”—was intended to raise the crane’s height but failed mid-process.

The crane accident took the life of a 27-year-old construction worker and injuring three others—including a woman in a car struck by the crane’s mast.

According to a federal investigation, the rigging system used during the extension was unsafe and did not meet industry standards. OSHA cited multiple contractors for serious violations, including improper assembly methods and poor coordination during the lift.

The report concluded the collapse was entirely preventable. It highlighted critical failures in planning and execution—raising concerns about how crane stepping operations are managed in urban areas.

The incident has prompted legal scrutiny and renewed calls for tighter controls on high-risk crane activities in public spaces.

3. Kelowna Construction Catastrophe (Canada, 2021)

What began as a routine dismantling job in downtown Kelowna turned into one of Canada’s worst crane disasters. On 12 July 2021, a tower crane collapsed while being taken down from a high-rise construction site at Bernard Block.

The crane fell into an adjacent office building, killing five people—four construction workers on-site and one office worker next door. The collapse also broke a gas line, knocked out power, and forced evacuations across several city blocks. A state of emergency was declared as emergency crews secured the area.

Investigations by the RCMP and WorkSafeBC were initiated to determine the cause of the collapse. In February 2024, the RCMP recommended a charge of criminal negligence causing death, which is currently under review by the BC Prosecution Service.

The Kelowna crane collapse is considered one of Canada’s most devastating crane-related incidents. It drew national attention and intensified calls for tighter regulations and oversight of crane operations, especially during dismantling in densely populated areas.

4. Dallas Crane Collapse (Dallas, USA, 2019)

During a sudden thunderstorm on 9 June 2019, a tower crane toppled over and crashed into a residential building in downtown Dallas. The impact tore through multiple floors of the Elan City Lights apartment, leaving the complex totally unusable.

A 29-year-old woman was killed in her apartment. Five others were injured, including both workers and residents.

The crane belonged to Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. and had been left standing on-site while work was paused. While the company stated the crane met all engineering standards, questions were raised about whether it should have been secured or lowered in anticipation of the weather.

Federal investigators, including OSHA, launched an inquiry into the collapse. Victims later filed lawsuits claiming the crane had not been properly prepared for the storm, despite forecasts warning of dangerous wind conditions.

In April 2023, a Dallas County jury awarded over $860 million in damages to Smith's family, finding Greystar Development and Construction liable for negligence. The crane's owner, Bigge Crane and Rigging Co., was not found at fault.

The incident sparked national discussion about crane safety in urban areas—especially in cities with growing high-rise construction activity.

5. Seattle Street Disaster (Seattle, USA, 2019)

On 27 April 2019, a tower crane collapsed while being dismantled at a construction site for a Google office in downtown Seattle. The crane split apart and fell onto Mercer Street, crushing cars and killing four people—two ironworkers and two bystanders in vehicles.

A state investigation later found that the collapse was caused by premature removal of essential pins too early in the process. These pins were critical to keeping the crane stable during takedown. Without them, the crane buckled under its own weight.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries concluded the collapse was “totally avoidable.” Multiple contractors were cited and fined, including GLY Construction and Northwest Tower Crane Service. Violations included failing to follow manufacturer guidelines and poor communication on-site.

The incident raised major concerns around dismantling procedures, especially in urban areas where cranes operate above roads, sidewalks, and active sites.

6. Shipyard Crane Collision (Geoje, South Korea, 2017)

A routine lift at one of the world’s largest shipyards turned deadly when two cranes collided at Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje. One crane collapsed onto a prefab structure used as a rest area for workers, killing six and injuring 25 more.

The cranes were operating simultaneously as part of an offshore oil platform construction. Investigators later confirmed that the lifts were not properly coordinated. There were serious breakdowns in communication between crane operators and site managers, and key safety procedures were overlooked.

Most of the victims were subcontractors inside the temporary structure during a break. The collapse prompted national outrage and renewed probe of safety standards across South Korea’s shipbuilding sector—an industry already known for its high accident rates.

Samsung issued a public apology and temporarily halted operations while reviewing its internal protocols. This collapse remains one of the deadliest crane-related incidents in South Korean industrial history.

7. The Mecca Deadly Crane Crash (Saudi Arabia, 2015)

One of the deadliest crane disasters in history happened at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on 11 September 2015. A large crawler crane, parked and extended on-site, collapsed during a sudden thunderstorm with strong winds.

The disaster wiped out at least 107 people and injured nearly 300. Many of the victims were international pilgrims visiting the mosque ahead of Hajj. Saudi Arabia’s civil defense authorities later confirmed that the crane had not been properly secured for the weather conditions.

The equipment belonged to the Saudi Binladin Group, a major contractor involved in the mosque’s expansion project.

Following the incident, the government suspended the contractor from new public projects. The crane accident sparked a global response, with scrutiny over construction safety standards and how large-scale projects handle weather risks.

8. Marco Melbourne Crane Accident (Melbourne, Australia, 2015)

On 7 August 2015, a tower crane collapsed inside the Marco Melbourne residential tower project in Southbank, one of Melbourne’s busiest construction precincts. The crane was in the process of an internal “climb”—a method used to raise the crane as the building rises—when the failure occurred.

The construction crane partially collapsed within the building’s lift shaft, damaging multiple floors and halting construction immediately. Nearby roads were closed, and emergency crews were dispatched to assess the damage and secure the site.

Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, though the collapse could have been far worse. One worker suffered minor injuries, but all others escaped without harm.

An internal climb is one of the riskiest operations in high-rise construction. Investigators and union officials later pointed to the importance of rigorous planning and execution when raising cranes inside tight, vertical shafts. The collapse prompted renewed scrutiny of climbing crane procedures across the industry.

While the Marco incident didn’t claim lives, it served as a major warning: even experienced crews and modern systems are vulnerable when working within confined structural cores.

9. Miami High-Rise Crane Accident (Miami, USA, 2008)

While working on a 46-story condo tower near downtown Miami, a climbing tower crane collapsed on 25 March 2008. The crane broke apart and fell into a neighboring low-rise building, killing two construction workers and injuring five others.

At the time, crews were adding a mast section to the crane to extend its height. During the process, a steel brace gave way, causing the structure to shift and collapse.

The crane struck a small house used as a site office and partially crushed nearby units. The impact was so forceful that nearby residents said it felt like an earthquake. Rescue teams worked for hours to pull victims from the wreckage.

Investigations pointed to improper bracing during the crane’s height extension. OSHA later cited the contractor for multiple violations, including failure to follow standard procedures and inadequate supervision.

10. Cai Lan Port Crane Disaster (Vietnam, 2008)

It was supposed to be a routine crane installation at Cái Lân Port—one of Vietnam’s busiest shipping hubs. Instead, it turned into one of the country’s deadliest construction site disasters.

On 20 March 2008, a massive gantry crane collapsed while it was still being assembled. The structure fell from a height of roughly 50 meters, crushing workers beneath and causing widespread damage across the site.

Seven workers were killed instantly. Six more were seriously injured—some trapped under heavy steel for hours before rescuers could reach them. Port operations were shut down as emergency crews responded.

Investigations revealed that the collapse was due to technical errors during the assembly process. Specifically, a misstep in the erection sequence led to the failure. The crane's base was found to be improperly secured, contributing to the instability that caused the collapse.

The collapse exposed deep flaws in project oversight and led to public outrage. It also forced Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport to review crane assembly procedures nationwide.

What made the collapse especially alarming was that it didn’t happen during a lift or operation—it happened while building the crane itself.

11. Midtown Manhattan Tragedy (New York, USA, 2008)

On 15 March 2008, a 200-foot tower crane collapsed in Midtown Manhattan during construction of a luxury high-rise on East 51st Street. The crane, which was being extended at the time, detached from its anchoring and toppled over, crushing a four-story townhouse and damaging several buildings.

Seven people were killed, including six construction workers and a civilian. Another 24 were injured. The crane crash caused widespread panic and shut down several city blocks for days.

Investigators later discovered that a crucial steel collar, which was meant to brace the crane to the building, had not been properly secured. The city also revealed that the crane had passed safety inspections just days before the incident. The building’s contractor and a subcontractor were eventually indicted, although some charges were later dropped.

This collapse remains one of the worst construction accidents in New York’s recent history and led to major changes in crane inspection protocols across the city.

12. Bellevue Residential Collapse (Washington, USA, 2006)

It was a rare and tragic case of a crane collapse affecting someone completely uninvolved with the construction site. On 16 November 2006, a tower crane fell from a downtown Bellevue project and crashed into a neighboring apartment building.

A 31-year-old man, who was inside his top-floor apartment, was killed when the crane crushed his unit. He was the only fatality, but the collapse caused significant structural damage to the building and forced residents to evacuate.

Investigators determined the crane’s base had been improperly secured. Instead of being anchored directly to a concrete foundation, it was mounted on a stand supported by steel shims and grout. Over time, the setup failed under the crane’s weight, causing the entire structure to topple.

The incident raised serious concerns about crane base installation practices. In response, Washington state introduced stricter crane safety regulations, including mandatory licensing and more rigorous inspection protocols.

13. Miller Park Crane Collapse (Milwaukee, USA, 1999)

Nicknamed “Big Blue,” this crane was one of the largest in the world. It stood over 500 feet tall and was brought in to lift a 450-ton section of the retractable roof at Miller Park, the new home for the Milwaukee Brewers.

High winds were blowing through the area that afternoon of 14 July 1999. Despite concerns from workers on the ground, the lift went ahead. Midway through, a sudden gust hit. The crane buckled and came crashing down. The incident ended the lives of three ironworkers who were struck by the falling structure.

The Miller Park crane collapse caused significant delays to the stadium project and led to a thorough investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Investigators found that wind speeds exceeded safety thresholds. Also, communication among the crew failed to stop the operation in time.

The Big Blue collapse remains one of the most high-profile crane accidents in the U.S. and led to more stringent safety reviews for critical lifts involving high-capacity cranes.

Key Factors Behind Crane Crashes

These crane collapses highlight the inherent risks of large-scale construction. While each case has its circumstances, a closer look at these incidents shows a pattern of preventable failures:

1. Weather: Sudden storms and high winds contributed to collapses in Mecca, Dallas, and Milwaukee. In each case, cranes were not secured or operations continued despite warnings.
2. Improper Assembly or Dismantling: The collapses in Seattle, Kelowna, Miami, and Vietnam occurred during crane assembly or takedown. In all cases, critical components were removed too early or procedures weren’t followed.
3. Structural or Foundation Issues: In Bellevue and Vietnam, cranes failed due to unstable or improperly secured bases that couldn’t support the load.
4. Human Error and Communication Failures: Poor coordination was a factor in Milwaukee, South Korea, and other incidents where work, health and safety concerns were raised but ignored.
5. Lack of Oversight: Some cranes had passed inspections shortly before failing, as seen in New York City and Miami, raising concerns about the effectiveness of existing safety checks.

Final Thoughts

Crane collapses are among the most devastating accidents on construction sites. It’s not only because of their scale but because so many are preventable. As the incidents in this list show, a mix of weather exposure, procedural errors, and overlooked safety measures can lead to catastrophic consequences.

Each case brought changes: new regulations, lawsuits, and increased scrutiny. But with urban construction on the rise and cranes operating in ever-tighter environments, the pressure to prioritize safety remains as urgent as ever.