The Empire State Building climb that ended in a marriage proposal has landed a pair of Russian daredevils in police custody, capping off one of the most audacious stunts New York City has seen in years. Two thrill-seekers scaled the very peak of the iconic skyscraper, staged a dramatic engagement at dizzying heights, and were promptly taken into custody once they came back down to earth.

A Stunt Straight Out of a Movie

The couple behind the feat, 33-year-old Angela Nikolau and 32-year-old Ivan Beerkus, are no strangers to heart-stopping heights. The two Russian nationals have built a reputation for pulling off similar climbs at landmarks around the globe and are the subjects of the 2024 documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.

This time, their chosen backdrop was one of the most famous buildings on the planet. Perched at the tip of the tower, the pair unfurled a large banner bearing a message about love triumphing over the pursuit of power and ushering in world peace. It was equal parts spectacle and statement.

The Proposal at the Summit

What set this climb apart was not just the danger but the romance woven into it. After reaching the top, the couple lingered on the structure for at least ten minutes before beginning their descent.

As they made their way down toward a lower platform on the building’s 200-foot telecommunications antenna, the moment arrived. Beerkus dropped to one knee and appeared to propose, presenting a ring to Nikolau. The two embraced, she pulled off her mask, and they sealed the moment with a kiss high above the streets of Manhattan.

The couple documented the entire experience in real time, sharing images and video on social media while still at the summit. One clip captured the vertigo-inducing view from a small platform, while a photograph showed Beerkus popping the question against the sprawling city skyline.

How They Got Up There

The building in question stands an imposing 1,454 feet tall, making the climb an extraordinary physical and logistical challenge. According to law enforcement sources, the pair appear to have gained access through a hatch on the 103rd floor, an area used for water tower maintenance.

That particular level is off-limits to the public. The floor directly below it, the 102nd, is accessible to visitors, but exactly how the couple bridged the gap between the two floors remains unclear. That missing piece has only added to the intrigue surrounding the entire episode.

The Police Response

The New York Police Department confirmed to the BBC that two individuals were taken into custody following the stunt. The charges they face are serious and wide-ranging, reportedly including:

• Burglary
• Reckless endangerment
• Criminal mischief
• Trespass
• Disorderly conduct

The NYPD also released body camera footage capturing the tense moment an officer climbed a caged ladder to reach the couple. In the clip, the officer calmly greets them and urges them to stay put, explaining they are not permitted to be there. Nikolau responds by raising her arms and assuring him she is fine. When the officers ask what language the pair speaks, she answers simply, Russian.

The Building’s Reaction

Management at the Empire State Building moved quickly to reassure the public. A spokesperson described the episode as an unauthorized incident and emphasized that it posed no danger to tenants, visitors, or the guests standing on the observation deck situated just below the spire.

In a somewhat wry twist, the spokesperson also took the opportunity to promote the building’s official offerings. The statement noted that the Empire State Building’s observation deck, sitting atop what it called the world’s most famous building in the heart of New York City, provides a perfectly practical and far safer setting for couples hoping to stage a memorable marriage proposal.

Not Their First Daring Feat

For Nikolau and Beerkus, this climb fits a well-established pattern. The duo has made a name for themselves through a series of vertiginous stunts performed at towering structures across the world, blending extreme risk with a distinctly romantic flair.

Their story reached a wider audience with the release of Skywalkers: A Love Story, a documentary that chronicled both their relationship and their gravity-defying adventures. In many ways, the Empire State Building climb reads like a real-life sequel to that film, complete with a proposal that most people would never dare to imagine, let alone attempt hundreds of feet above a bustling city.

What Comes Next

For now, the couple’s grand romantic gesture has collided with the reality of the legal system. While they succeeded in creating an unforgettable moment and capturing it for their followers, they must also answer for the risks and violations their climb involved.

The incident raises familiar questions about the fine line between daring artistry and reckless endangerment. Stunts like these captivate audiences and generate viral attention, yet they also strain emergency resources and put both the climbers and potential rescuers in harm’s way.

Whether the charges will dampen the couple’s appetite for future climbs remains to be seen. What is certain is that their engagement, staged at the pinnacle of one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, has already secured its place as one of the more unforgettable proposal stories in recent memory, for better and for worse.