New York City authorities arrested two daredevils on Wednesday around noon after they bypassed security checkpoints and free-climbed the 1,454-foot antenna of the Empire State Building. East Orange, New Jersey residents Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angela Nikolau, 33, scaled the structure without safety tethers. The New York Police Department’s Emergency Service Unit intercepted the climbers near the summit and took them into custody without incident.
The unauthorized ascent prompted an immediate law enforcement response. Officials temporarily cleared the building’s observation deck while officers negotiated the recovery. Kuznetsov and Nikolau now face severe criminal charges, including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal tampering, and criminal trespass.
While balancing on the narrow spire, the couple unfurled a large banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” Kuznetsov then dropped to one knee and proposed to Nikolau, who accepted. The exact details of the police intervention were captured on bodycam footage, according to the Inquirer, which verified the timeline of the observation deck clearing.
The incident raises immediate security questions for one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. Empire State Building management released a statement confirming the climb was unauthorized. They emphasized that no one inside the building was endangered. But representatives declined to answer questions about how the duo managed to smuggle climbing equipment past strict security checkpoints.
Law enforcement experts are already calling for a severe legal response. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe weighed in on the breach, speaking to CNN to warn that officials must pursue strict prosecution to deter copycats. McCabe noted the recklessness of the stunt places city authorities and building owners in a highly precarious position.
Kuznetsov, also known online as Ivan Beerkus, and Nikolau are prominent Russian roof-toppers. The pair previously starred in the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which chronicled their perilous climbs on skyscrapers around the globe. Netflix declined to comment on the arrests.
Unauthorized ascents of the Empire State Building’s upper spire remain incredibly rare. The last high-profile presence on the antenna occurred in 2023, when actor Jared Leto completed a legally permitted, tethered climb from the 86th floor to the base of the antenna to promote a music tour.