‘Life-or-Death’ Proposal From the Top of Empire State Building’s 443m Antenna… Russian Couple Caught After Surprise Stunt

A famous influencer couple that pulled off a life-or-death surprise proposal stunt from the dizzying top of the antenna spire of the Empire State Building, a symbol of New York, has been swiftly arrested by local police. A full-scale commotion erupted in the middle of New York, with an on-scene broadcast helicopter and drones rushing to the area and nearby roads being shut down.

■ 443 meters above ground on the dizzying peak… a large ‘peace banner’ fluttering in the wind

According to reports by international media on July 1 (local time), around noon, two people—a man and a woman—dressed in black and wearing masks were spotted climbing without permission up to the top of the antenna spire (Spire) at the uppermost section of the Empire State Building from midtown Manhattan’s airspace. The height was a deadly 1,454 feet (about 443 meters) above ground.

They appeared to be balancing on a narrow ledge of the antenna’s lattice structure without any separate safety rope (rope) at all. Standing precariously, they then unfolded a large black banner they had prepared. In white lettering, the banner carried a clear peace message and a quote from the late Jimi Hendrix: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”

■ The ‘plot-twist proposal’ begins as the banner comes down… he kneels on one knee and hands over the ring

The true purpose of the breathtaking aerial stunt was revealed 30 minutes later. Around 12:30 p.m., after taking down the banner atop the antenna, the two moved to the rail of a lower platform with a slightly wider space using the metal structure.

At that moment, the man suddenly dropped to one knee and pulled something from his pocket, handing it to the woman. It was a surprise “wedding plot-twist proposal” carried out high above the city. When the thrilled woman accepted the proposal, the two hugged passionately and shared a kiss in midair, and the woman reached out with her left hand, showing her nerve as she took a ring-wearing photo and a selfie against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline.

The stars of the dramatic stunt were identified as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, a Russian-born “rooftopper” couple known for climbing the world’s tallest skyscrapers without safety equipment. They previously built a reputation by conquering other super-tall buildings in cities including Tianjin, China, and Los Angeles in the United States.

■ Arrest after the romantic ending… indicted on charges including unlawful entry and misdemeanor offenses

The life-or-death romantic spectacle ended as soon as the two came down to the ground. Immediately after the incident, New York Police Department (NYPD) Emergency Service Unit (ESU), fire crews, helicopters and drones were urgently dispatched to the scene, and numerous tourists who had come to the building to watch were inconvenienced by being kept under control for safety reasons.

A little after 1 p.m., the two came down from the antenna and were immediately taken into custody by waiting NYPD officers. In an official statement, NYPD said, “No accidents or injuries occurred, and we secured the identities of the two individuals and detained them.” According to local media, they are being investigated after being charged with serious offenses including unlawful entry into a building (Burglary), criminal trespass (Criminal Trespass), and reckless endangerment (Reckless Endangerment).

The building management office drew a line in response, saying it was “a complete unlawful and illegal entry that was not coordinated in advance.” There have been earlier instances where actor Jared Leto had climbed legally from the 86th floor up to the antenna column with official permission for publicity, but voices pointing to security loopholes have grown louder over this case, in which the couple climbed to the top by breaching general controlled areas.