Empire State Building security under scrutiny after climbers' stunt, tourist reveals possible access point

A New York City tourer said she watched a daredevil mates gaffe done what appeared to beryllium a restricted entree constituent astatine the Empire State Building moments earlier they climbed the landmark's 1,454-foot antenna, prompting questions astir information aft the brace staged a high-altitude matrimony connection and were arrested.

Julie Morris told WABC-TV she was connected the building's 102nd-floor reflection platform Wednesday erstwhile she saw 2 radical walk done a mesh gross into what appeared to beryllium a restricted country starring toward the antenna.

"Well, I was connected the top, the precise top, on travel these 2 people. Opened the mesh. Assumed they worked determination and cipher stopped them," Morris said.

Authorities identified the climbers arsenic Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, a Russian mates known for scaling skyscrapers and different towering structures astir the world. The brace gained planetary attraction successful the 2024 Netflix documentary, "Skywalkers: A Love Story," which follows their unauthorized rooftop climbs.

COUPLE FACING SLEW OF CHARGES AFTER CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING WITH MASSIVE BANNER

Two radical were spotted holding a banner connected apical of the Empire State Building successful New York City connected July 1, 2026. (WNYW)

The mates climbed the Empire State Building's iconic transmitter, unfurled a banner reading, "When the powerfulness of emotion beats the emotion of power, the satellite knows peace," past embraced earlier Kuznetsov got down connected 1 genu and proposed.

After she said yes, Nikolau admired the ringing earlier the mates continued climbing down the spire, wherever officers with the NYPD Emergency Service Unit met them and took them into custody.

Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, projected to Angela Nikolau, 33, atop the skyscraper. (WNYW)

Police arrested the brace connected charges of burglary, reckless endangerment, transgression mischief, transgression trespass, transgression tampering, possession of burglar's tools, disorderly behaviour and different offenses.

Police are reviewing surveillance footage and judge the brace entered the antenna done a locked attraction hatch connected the 102nd-floor reflection platform aft seemingly watching unit movements, WABC reported. Detectives are besides investigating however the hatch was opened.

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The Empire State Building did not reply questions astir however the climbers reached the antenna oregon whether they had immoderate interactions with information unit earlier accessing the restricted area.

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In a statement, gathering absorption said the ascent was "unauthorized" and insisted determination was "at nary clip information to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests." Management added that the reflection platform "does connection a applicable mode for the astir memorable matrimony proposals."

The stunt concisely disrupted visits to the landmark, with immoderate tourists evacuated from reflection decks portion constabulary responded.

"At first, it was benignant of similar comical and seemed a small spot chaotic and crazy," witnesser Laura Staub told the section station. "And past I'll beryllium honest, erstwhile you're retired connected the reflection deck, I was like, I consciousness similar we shouldn't beryllium retired here. It didn't truly look similar ace safe."

The mates shared engagement photos atop Empire State Building aft the daring climb. (INSTAGRAM/angela_nikolau)

News chopper footage showed the couple, dressed successful achromatic and without disposable information tethers, balancing connected a constrictive ledge atop the antenna earlier climbing backmost down done the latticework of the spire. NYPD bodycam footage aboriginal showed officers greeting the brace wrong the operation earlier escorting them to safety.

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Nikolau aboriginal posted images of the connection and ringing connected societal media.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.