The National Transportation Safety Board’s final report on the March 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge concludes that the disaster was triggered by a small but critical electrical installation error aboard the containership Dali. Investigators found that an improperly installed wire-label band caused a loose signal wire on a terminal block, leading to a total loss of electrical power, propulsion, and steering as the vessel neared the bridge and ultimately struck Pier 17. The impact killed six highway workers, caused more than $18 million in damage to the ship, and left taxpayers facing an estimated $4.3–$5.2 billion bridge replacement not expected to open until late 2030. The NTSB also cited the lack of bridge vulnerability countermeasures and ineffective, delayed communication to road workers as key contributors to the scale of the tragedy. Its recommendations call for coordinated federal action to assess and mitigate vessel collision risks at bridges, improved structural protections, redundant propulsion options for large single-engine cargo ships, enhanced voyage data recorders, and operator-level measures such as infrared thermal imaging to detect faulty electrical connections. The report underscores how seemingly minor mechanical faults can cascade into catastrophic failures when critical infrastructure is insufficiently protected and emergency protocols fall short.