A pair of individuals were apprehended on Wednesday following an unauthorized ascent to the peak of the Empire State Building’s antenna in New York City. The two climbers, both masked and wearing black attire, reached the narrow ledge 1,454 feet above the ground to display a banner promoting global peace. Video captured from a news helicopter showed the couple embracing and posing for pictures while balanced high above Manhattan.
Around 12:30 p.m., the duo began their descent along the antenna’s lattice structure. Before reaching a secure platform, one individual knelt while the other appeared to display a ring, suggesting a marriage proposal had taken place. Police successfully took both people into custody by 1 p.m. without any reported injuries. Investigators have yet to determine how the pair bypassed security to reach areas far above the building’s designated observation decks.
Empire State Building management has not provided a statement regarding the security breach. While most climbs on the landmark are prohibited, an exception was made in 2023 for actor Jared Leto, who was authorized to climb to the antenna’s base for promotional purposes.
