Traveler remembers how Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov scaled the Empire State Building

Daredevil Proposal at the Empire State Building Raises Safety Questions

Visitors in New York City witnessed an audacious couple make their way into what seemed like a restricted area of the Empire State Building, climbing to the top of its 1,454-foot antenna. Their actions have sparked concerns about safety after they were arrested for proposing at such a height.

Julie Morris recounted her experience, stating that while she was on the 102nd-floor observation deck, she noticed two individuals sneak into a restricted zone via a mesh gate. “I was right at the top when these two came in, opened the mesh, and no one stopped them, so I thought they worked there,” she said.

Authorities later identified the climbers as Angela Nikolaou, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, a Russian couple recognized globally for scaling skyscrapers and other tall structures. They received notable attention from their 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which showcased their adventurous climbs without permission.

Couple Faces Legal Troubles After Climbing the Iconic Building

This daring couple climbed the Empire State Building’s transmitter, unfurled a banner proclaiming, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace,” and embraced before Kuznetsov proposed. Following her affirmative response, Nikolaou admired her ring, and they proceeded down the spire, only to be greeted by officers from the New York City Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit.

The couple was subsequently charged with robbery, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, tampering, possession of burglary tools, disorderly conduct, and more. Reports indicate that police are analyzing surveillance footage, suspecting that the couple monitored staff movements before accessing the antenna through a locked maintenance hatch located on the observation deck. Investigators are also trying to determine how they managed to open the hatch.

Building Management Responds to Incident

The Empire State Building management has classified the couple’s climb as “unauthorized” and claimed it posed no risk to visitors or tenants. They also stated that the observation deck remains a safe venue for “the most memorable marriage proposal.”

The incident briefly halted tours of the landmark, with some tourists being evacuated from the observation deck while police dealt with the situation. Laura Staub, an eyewitness, expressed mixed feelings, recalling that it initially seemed humorous but shifted to a sense of unease. “Once I got out on the observation deck, I felt like I shouldn’t be out there. It didn’t feel very safe,” she admitted.

Helicopter footage showed the couple, clad in black and lacking visible safety harnesses, precariously balanced on a ledge above the antenna before making their way down. Body camera footage from the NYPD captured officers attending to the couple inside the building, ensuring their safety.