Two arrested after Empire State Building spire stunt

Two people were taken into custody Wednesday after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building, unfurling a peace banner and staging what appeared to be a marriage proposal high above Midtown Manhattan.

The pair, described by authorities and witnesses as a man and a woman wearing dark clothing and masks, reached the spire above the landmark skyscraper, well beyond areas open to the public. They displayed a large black banner reading: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”

Shortly after 12:30 p.m., the two climbed down to a slightly lower platform on the structure that holds the building’s antenna. Video from the scene showed one person getting down on one knee before the two embraced and kissed. An NBC New York helicopter captured the scene as it circled overhead.

The climbers eventually made their way down to street level, where law enforcement officers took them into custody, New York Police Department spokesperson Delaney Kempner said. Police said no injuries were reported. Authorities were investigating, and charges had not yet been announced.

It was not immediately clear how the pair reached the uppermost section of the building. The Empire State Building rises 1,250 feet to its roof, with a spire bringing its total height to 1,454 feet. NBC News reported that the couple scaled a 200-foot spire atop the skyscraper, the sixth-tallest building in the United States.

The NYPD monitored the stunt from the air, according to The Guardian, which cited local media reports of an NYPD drone and helicopter near the scene. Police also warned of street closures near Fifth Avenue and 34th Street in Manhattan because of the activity. ABC reported that the NYPD recovered the banner, according to The Guardian.

New York police have not confirmed the identities of the two people. The Guardian reported that they appeared to be Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, two Russian “rooftoppers” known for similar stunts in cities including Tianjin, China, and Los Angeles. Both of their social media pages feature photos and videos of the pair standing on high-rises and bridges around the world, The Guardian reported.

The Guardian also reported that Nikolau posted an Instagram story featuring video apparently taken from the top of the skyscraper, writing: “Currently at the Empire State Building[,] you can watch on the city webcam.” Around 1 p.m. ET, she posted photos appearing to show her on the spire, including images of the apparent proposal and what appeared to be an engagement ring on her hand. Another photo appeared to show her hand clasped with what appeared to be Beerkus’s hand against the city far below.

The two were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which Netflix describes as “a daredevil couple’s romance reaches dizzying highs and heartbreaking lows,” The Guardian reported.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Empire State Building said “the unauthorized incident at the building has been resolved with the constructive and helpful coordination of the NYPD.”

“There was at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests,” the spokesperson said. “It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the ‘World’s Most Famous Building’ in the center of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals.”

Cellphone videos from nearby onlookers captured confusion around the building as the pair stood near the needle. In air traffic control audio reviewed by NBC News, an unidentified person asked, “What’s all the hoopla going on over there?” Another person responded: “Geniuses climbed to the top of the Empire State Building, the top of the spire.” A reply followed: “A little hot for that, isn’t it?”

The incident occurred as New York City was dealing with a heat wave and an influx of visitors for World Cup matches and the July Fourth holiday weekend.