The Empire State Building experienced a dramatic moment on Wednesday when a daring couple, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, climbed to the top of the iconic landmark's 1,454-foot antenna, sparking concerns about security.
The pair, known for scaling skyscrapers and other towering structures around the world, gained international attention in a Netflix documentary. They entered the antenna through what appeared to be a restricted access point, prompting questions about how they bypassed security measures.
Julie Morris, a tourist who witnessed the event, described seeing the couple pass through a mesh gate into the restricted area. "Well, I was on the top, the very top, along come these two people. Opened the mesh. Assumed they worked there and nobody stopped them," Morris said.
The couple climbed the transmitter, unfurled a banner, and proposed to each other. After the proposal, they continued climbing down the spire, where officers met them and took them into custody. The pair was arrested on charges of burglary, reckless endangerment, and other offenses.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage and investigating how the pair entered the antenna. They believe the couple entered through a locked maintenance hatch on the 102nd-floor observation deck, which they may have watched staff movements to access.
The Empire State Building management stated that the climb was "unauthorized" and emphasized that there was "at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests." Management also acknowledged that the observation deck offers a unique way for memorable marriage proposals.
The stunt briefly disrupted visits to the landmark, with some tourists evacuated from observation decks while police responded. Witness Laura Staub described the scene as "comical and wild" but later felt uneasy about the safety of the situation.
News helicopter footage showed the couple balancing on a narrow ledge atop the antenna before climbing back down through the latticework of the spire. NYPD bodycam footage later showed officers greeting the pair inside the structure before escorting them to safety.
Nikolau later posted images of the proposal and ring on social media, showcasing the dramatic moment.
