Authorities Pursue Parachutists Who Leaped From Space Needle
WHO:
ABC News - Two men are involved in the incident.
KOMO - The suspects are described as white men in their late 20s.
WHAT:
USA Today - The two men face charges including trespassing.
USA Today - The incident occurred after two men bought tickets and entered the public attraction.
USA Today - The jumpers were seen on camera "standing around possibly scouting" before the jump.
USA Today - Security was uncertain of the location where the jumpers landed, and it was not immediately known whether either person who jumped was injured.
ABC News - The two men executed an unauthorized BASE jump off the Space Needle, which is a type of extreme sport involving jumps from fixed objects.
KOMO - The incident was captured in videos shared on social media, showing the men performing back flips before parachuting down.
KOMO - The Space Needle stated it is cooperating with investigators regarding the illegal incident.
KOMO - The Space Needle confirmed that the observation deck is located at 520 feet above the ground, while the total height of the tower is 605 feet.
KOMO - The incident was captured in numerous videos shared on social media, showing the two individuals performing back flips before parachuting down.
KOMO - The Space Needle is reviewing security footage and assisting with the active investigation.
KOMO - The incident occurred ahead of a busy weekend in Seattle, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend events including the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade and the Bite of Seattle.
ABC News - The two men parachuted from the Space Needle.
KOMO - The incident was reported to Seattle police at around 9:21 p.m.
KOMO - The suspects jumped from the Space Needle, performing back flips before parachuting down.
KOMO - The Space Needle confirmed the incident as illegal and is cooperating with investigators.
WHERE:
ABC News - The incident took place at the Space Needle in Seattle.
KOMO - The observation deck of the Space Needle is located at 520 feet above the ground, with the total height of the tower reaching 605 feet.
WHEN:
KOMO - The incident occurred on a Friday evening, with the jump happening around 8:50 p.m.
WHY:
USA Today - The stunt came just over a month after two people died in a BASE jumping incident in Utah on June 14.
KOMO - The suspects appeared to be scouting the area before jumping.
HOW:
USA Today - The men approached a glass window facing northbound, "running and jumping over to the opposite side of the glass."
KOMO - The suspects entered the restroom and came out wearing helmets before the jump.
KOMO - The suspects were seen on camera at the top level for viewing, standing around possibly scouting before jumping.
KOMO - The suspects entered the Space Needle with purchased tickets that were scanned at the front entrance.
KOMO - The suspects climbed over the glass barriers of the Space Needle and jumped off the ledge. They entered the restroom and came out wearing helmets before the jump.
(UPDATED July 27, 2026 08:08 UTC)
Two men are facing charges, including trespassing, after they jumped from a public attraction where they had purchased tickets. The incident was captured on camera, showing the jumpers appearing to scout the area before making their leap, and security is still trying to determine where they landed and if they were injured. This stunt comes just over a month after a tragic BASE jumping incident in Utah that resulted in two fatalities on June 14.
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(UPDATED July 26, 2026 20:18 UTC)
Two men executed an unauthorized BASE jump off the Space Needle, a daring extreme sport that involves jumping from fixed objects, and the incident was captured in videos shared on social media, showcasing the men performing back flips before parachuting down. The Space Needle confirmed that its observation deck is situated at 520 feet above the ground, while the total height of the tower reaches 605 feet, and they are cooperating with investigators regarding the illegal jump. Before the stunt, the suspects were seen on camera at the top level, where they entered a restroom and emerged wearing helmets, possibly scouting the area before taking the leap.
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(UPDATED July 26, 2026 11:19 UTC)
A dramatic incident unfolded at the Space Needle, where videos on social media show two individuals performing back flips before parachuting down. The Space Needle is currently reviewing security footage and cooperating with an active investigation, as the incident occurred just before a busy weekend in Seattle, which is set to host events like the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade and the Bite of Seattle. Authorities have confirmed that the suspects gained access by purchasing tickets that were scanned at the entrance.
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(UPDATED July 26, 2026 10:28 UTC)
Two men, described as white and in their late 20s, parachuted from the Space Needle in Seattle, performing back flips before landing. The incident, which occurred on a Friday evening around 8:50 p.m., was reported to police shortly after the jump, and the Space Needle confirmed it was illegal and is cooperating with investigators. Witnesses noted that the suspects had entered a restroom prior to the jump, emerging with helmets before climbing over the glass barriers to make their leap.