Two Russian rooftoppers climb Empire State Building, get engaged, then arrested

Two masked climbers scaled the Empire State Building in New York City — 1,454 feet (443.2 meters) tall, including the spire — and attached a banner reading: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” The climb took place around noon local time.

After reaching the top, the pair — a man and a woman — descended to a small platform, where the man got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend. They kissed and continued their descent. Police detained them after they came down. They could face charges of trespassing and endangering public safety. Officers closed several streets near the building and deployed a helicopter in response.

The climbers were identified as Russian rooftoppers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, who travel the world scaling skyscrapers without safety equipment. They are the subjects of the documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and later appeared on Netflix. Nikolau confirmed the climb on her Instagram, posting a photo showing her wearing a ring.

Empire State Building management stated that tenants, visitors, and guests on the observation deck were never in danger during the stunt. A representative added that the observation deck offers a practical way for memorable marriage proposals.