Couple Arrested After Climbing 102-Story Skyscraper to Propose Marriage

A couple has been arrested after allegedly climbing the antenna mast of New York City’s iconic 102-story Empire State Building without authorization to stage a marriage proposal.

According to local media reports and videos circulating online, the masked couple climbed to the building’s antenna mast, which rises to a height of approximately 445 metres (1,460 feet). Upon reaching the top, the man proposed to his girlfriend, who was later seen photographing her engagement ring with a mobile phone.

The pair also unfurled a black banner bearing the message: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

During the incident, a helicopter from the New York Police Department monitored the situation from the air. After the couple descended by holding onto the metal railings and reached the observation deck, law enforcement officers took them into custody.

How the two managed to access the antenna, located well above the sections of the Empire State Building open to the public, remains unclear.

Body-camera footage released by police shows an officer climbing a ladder to reach the pair. As he approached, the officer asked, “What are you doing?” However, the couple’s response could not be heard because of the strong wind. The officer then told them, “Okay, you can’t stay up here.”

The footage also captures the officer breathing heavily as he climbed the ladder to reach the summit.

The individuals were identified as Russian nationals Vanya Berkus and Angela Nikolau, both well-known urban climbers. They appeared in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which chronicles their high-risk climbs of some of the world’s tallest structures. The latest stunt is believed to have been inspired by their passion for extreme urban climbing.

Authorities said the couple was arrested on charges of unlawfully entering the Empire State Building’s antenna tower and violating security regulations. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.