A New York City adventure took an unexpected twist when a tourist witnessed a couple slipping through what seemed to be a forbidden access point at the Empire State Building. Just moments later, the fearless duo made headlines by climbing the iconic landmark’s 1,454-foot antenna to stage a daring marriage proposal. Their actions, culminating in an arrest, have sparked discussions about security measures at the famous site.
Julie Morris recalled her astonishing experience to WABC-TV. She had been taking in the views from the building’s 102nd-floor observation deck when she noticed two individuals confidently bypassing a mesh gate. It led them into an area that certainly seemed off-limits, heading straight for the antenna.
“I was at the very top when these two people appeared. They just opened the mesh gate. I assumed they were employees, and nobody seemed to intervene,” Morris shared with a mix of disbelief and intrigue.
Authorities later identified these intrepid climbers as Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32. This Russian couple has gained notoriety for their exhilarating climbs of skyscrapers and towering edifices worldwide. Their thrilling escapades were previously chronicled in the 2024 Netflix documentary, “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which showcased their unauthorized ascents.
Adding another layer to their bold stunt, the couple was spotted holding a large banner atop the Empire State Building on July 1, 2026, a sight that captured the attention of many New Yorkers below. (WNYW)
The couple climbed the Empire State Building’s iconic transmitter, unfurled a banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace,” then embraced before Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed.
After she said yes, Nikolau admired the ring before the couple continued climbing down the spire, where officers with the NYPD Emergency Service Unit met them and took them into custody.
Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, proposed to Angela Nikolau, 33, atop the skyscraper. (WNYW)
Police arrested the pair on charges of burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, criminal tampering, possession of burglar’s tools, disorderly conduct and other offenses.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage and believe the pair entered the antenna through a locked maintenance hatch on the 102nd-floor observation deck after apparently watching staff movements, WABC reported. Detectives are also investigating how the hatch was opened.
The Empire State Building did not answer questions about how the climbers reached the antenna or whether they had any interactions with security personnel before accessing the restricted area.
In a statement, building management said the climb was “unauthorized” and insisted there was “at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests.” Management added that the observation deck “does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals.”
The stunt briefly disrupted visits to the landmark, with some tourists evacuated from observation decks while police responded.
“At first, it was kind of like comical and seemed a little bit wild and crazy,” witness Laura Staub told the local station. “And then I’ll be honest, once you’re out on the observation deck, I was like, I feel like we shouldn’t be out here. It didn’t really seem like super safe.”
The couple shared engagement photos atop Empire State Building after the daring climb. (INSTAGRAM/angela_nikolau)
News helicopter footage showed the couple, dressed in black and without visible safety tethers, balancing on a narrow ledge atop the antenna before climbing back down through the latticework of the spire. NYPD bodycam footage later showed officers greeting the pair inside the structure before escorting them to safety.
Nikolau later posted images of the proposal and ring on social media.