Empire State Building Climb Raises Serious Security Concerns
WHO:
Fox News - Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov are the two Russian climbers involved in the incident.
CBS News US - The climbers are identified as Russian nationals.
WHAT:
AP News - The couple was arraigned on felony charges including burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief.
CNN - The couple's engagement proposal occurred at a height of approximately 1,450 feet above the city.
CNN - The couple's actions resulted in an estimated $2,000 in damage to a broken security door lock on the 104th floor.
AP News - The couple was charged with felony reckless endangerment, burglary, and other charges during their arraignment.
AP News - The climbers ascended to a height of 1,454 feet (443 meters) above midtown Manhattan.
AP News - The court document noted that police found a broken lock on a security door on the Empire State Building’s restricted-access 104th floor.
AP News - The highest public floor of the Empire State Building is the 102nd, where there is an observation deck.
Fast Company - The couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building's 204-foot spire and quickly went viral for it.
Fast Company - The couple's black banner with white text read: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
Fox News - The climbers allegedly climbed the Empire State Building antenna for a proposal.
CBS News US - The climbers appeared to get engaged and unfurled a pro-peace banner during their ascent.
Fox News - The climbers were arrested on burglary charges by the NYPD.
WHERE:
Fox News - The incident took place at the Empire State Building in New York City.
CBS News US - The climbers reached the top of the Empire State Building.
WHEN:
CBS News US - The climbing incident occurred on a Wednesday.
WHY:
CBS News US - The climbers' motivation included a marriage proposal and the display of a pro-peace message.
HOW:
CNN - The couple entered the Empire State Building as visitors the night before their climb and hid inside after closing.
CNN - They purchased tickets for the 86th-floor observatory at 9 p.m. on the night before their climb.
CNN - Security camera footage showed the couple hiding in the observatory complex and later emerging from a hatch in the floor.
CNN - The couple used tools to loosen brackets and cut two padlocks to access the spire.
AP News - The couple reportedly posed as construction workers to gain access to the building.
Fast Company - The couple's climbing stunt has been noted as part of their daredevil past, which is significant enough to be featured in a Netflix documentary.
CBS News US - The climbers managed to access the top of the Empire State Building, raising security concerns regarding possible access points.
(UPDATED July 3, 2026 09:55 UTC)
A couple has been arraigned on felony charges including burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief after a daring climb to the top of the Empire State Building. Their engagement proposal took place at a height of approximately 1,450 feet above the city, but their actions caused an estimated $2,000 in damage to a broken security door lock on the 104th floor. The couple had entered the building as visitors the night before, purchasing tickets for the 86th-floor observatory and later using tools to access the spire after hiding inside the observatory complex.
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(UPDATED July 2, 2026 23:23 UTC)
A couple has been charged with felony reckless endangerment, burglary, and other offenses after allegedly posing as construction workers to access the Empire State Building. They managed to climb to a height of 1,454 feet above midtown Manhattan, reaching a restricted-access area on the 104th floor, where police discovered a broken lock on a security door. It's important to note that the highest public floor of the Empire State Building is the 102nd, which features an observation deck.
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(UPDATED July 2, 2026 21:24 UTC)
A couple has gone viral after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building's 204-foot spire, showcasing their adventurous spirit. They unfurled a black banner with white text that read, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” This daring stunt is part of their history of thrill-seeking, which has even earned them a feature in an upcoming Netflix documentary.
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(UPDATED July 2, 2026 15:47 UTC)
Two Russian climbers, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, were arrested on burglary charges after allegedly scaling the Empire State Building antenna for a marriage proposal. During their ascent, they unfurled a pro-peace banner, raising security concerns about access points to the iconic structure in New York City. The incident, which took place on a Wednesday, has drawn significant attention due to the climbers' motivations and the daring nature of their actions.