Two daredevil climbers who scaled the spire of the Empire State Building and staged an on-top engagement were released under supervision after a brief arraignment Thursday in Manhattan. Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina (also reported as Angela) Nikolau, 33, who live in East Orange, face charges including reckless endangerment, burglary and criminal mischief. Court records and police accounts say investigators found a broken lock on a 104th-floor security door and video that may show the pair entering through a 102nd-floor hatch early Wednesday. The couple received supervised release until their next scheduled court appearance on Aug. 24.
Key Takeaways
- The defendants are Ivan Kuznetsov (32) and Angelina/Angela Nikolau (33); both were arraigned Thursday and did not enter pleas.
- They face multiple counts including reckless endangerment, burglary and criminal mischief, and were ordered to supervised release until Aug. 24.
- Police say a lock on a 104th-floor security door was broken, granting access to the broadcasting antenna about 1,300+ feet above ground; the spire reaches 1,454 feet.
- Investigators believe the pair entered the building the night before and were captured on security camera at about 5 a.m. going through a hatch on the 102nd floor.
- NYPD Emergency Service Unit officers scaled the spire to bring them down; officials released body-camera footage of the response.
- The couple unfurled a banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace,” and a visible proposal occurred on descent.
- Their lawyer contended the district attorney overcharged the case; Empire State Building officials said visitors and tenants were not put at risk.
Background
The Empire State Building is one of the most heavily secured landmarks in New York City, with multiple observation levels and restricted access to the upper floors and antenna. Unauthorized ascents have occurred in past years; most were performed without official permission and prompted security reviews. In 2023 actor-musician Jared Leto was permitted to climb to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor for a promotional event, an exception that underlines how unusual it is for civilians to reach the spire.
The two climbers involved in this week’s stunt are Moscow natives known in urban climbing circles for scaling high-profile structures worldwide; they were profiled in the 2024 documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story.” Their recent actions combine performance, publicity and a personal milestone—an engagement captured at extreme height—which complicates both public reaction and prosecutorial decisions. Building operators, law enforcement and prosecutors now must weigh public safety, deterrence and appropriate charges.
Main Event
According to the criminal complaint and statements from officials, security footage shows movement through a hatch on the 102nd floor at about 5 a.m. Wednesday. Investigators say a lock on a 104th-floor security door was broken, allowing access to the broadcasting antenna more than 1,300 feet above the street. The couple then scaled exterior and interior portions of the spire and unfurled a banner before the NYPD intervened.
NYPD Emergency Service Unit personnel climbed the spire to reach the couple and escort them down; the department released body-camera video of the response that officials described as harrowing. Police took the pair into custody; court filings say the climbers were held overnight in separate cells before their arraignment Thursday morning. They appeared in court wearing the same black clothing seen in surveillance images and were formally charged but did not enter pleas.
Prosecutors and security officials describe evidence suggesting the ascent was planned: tools were reportedly used to loosen brackets and there was what a security executive called pre-observational surveillance. The pair carried a banner with a peace-themed slogan and, by many accounts, staged a proposal during their descent from the spire. After court they were seen kissing on camera as they left the courthouse and entered the Chambers Street subway station.
Analysis & Implications
The incident raises immediate security and legal questions about access to critical building systems like broadcasting antennas and spires. A broken lock on a 104th-floor door and apparent tampering with brackets indicate physical vulnerabilities that building operators and city regulators must assess. For the Empire State Building, the episode will likely trigger tightened procedures, additional inspections and possibly new deterrents to prevent repeat breaches.
Legally, prosecutors must decide how to balance public-safety messaging with prosecutorial proportionality. Charges such as reckless endangerment can carry significant penalties if convictions follow, but the defense argues the couple posed no demonstrable danger to tenants or observation-deck visitors. That dispute—whether the stunt endangered others or primarily endangered the climbers themselves—will shape plea negotiations and potential sentencing if the case proceeds.
The stunt also illustrates how social-media-driven spectacle can create complex enforcement dilemmas. High-profile climbs generate intense public attention, which can embolden copycats and complicate law-enforcement resource allocation. The NYPD’s costly and risky rescue response will factor into municipal conversations about deterrence, civil-liability exposure and possible restitution demands against defendants if property damage is confirmed.
Comparison & Data
| Item | This Event (Aug. weekday) | Notable Prior Access (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Structure point reached | Spire/antenna (~1,300+ ft; spire height 1,454 ft) | Base of antenna from 86th floor (authorized promotional climb) |
| Reported access method | Broken 104th-floor lock; hatch on 102nd floor; alleged bracket loosening | Permission granted by building management |
| Immediate law-enforcement response | NYPD Emergency Service Unit scaled spire; bodycam footage released | Security escort; no public rescue footage released |
The table shows the contrast between an unauthorized, forced-access ascent and a previously permitted climb. The current incident involved alleged physical breaches of secured doors and potential tampering with structural brackets. Those elements increase the gravity of possible charges and the operational burden on emergency responders.
Reactions & Quotes
Empire State Building officials stressed no tenants or observation-deck visitors were put at risk, framing the event as a breach that did not produce widespread harm.
“There was at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests,” the building said in a statement.
Empire State Building (official statement)
NYPD leadership emphasized the danger faced by officers who had to ascend the spire to recover the climbers.
“The body-camera video we released — it really can take your breath away,” said the NYPD commissioner, describing the response as harrowing.
Jessica Tisch, NYPD Commissioner
The couple’s attorney argued prosecutors overcharged and characterized the act as a public message of love rather than an intent to harm.
“Even the Empire State Building’s own people said that there was no risk or danger to any of the tenants,” the lawyer said in court.
Jason Krinsky, Defense Attorney
Unconfirmed
- The couple’s exact marital status remains unclear: family sources have said they were already married and that the climb may have been performative; that claim has not been corroborated by court filings.
- Investigators say the pair entered the building the night before, but some details about the timing, tools used and accomplices remain under investigation.
- Precise damage measurements to the 104th-floor lock or other hardware—and the estimated cost of repairs—have not been publicly released.
Bottom Line
This episode is a collision of stunt culture, public spectacle and serious security concerns. While the defendants have framed the climb as a personal or performative act, law enforcement and building officials treat physical breaches of secured infrastructure as matters of public safety and potential criminal liability. The supervised release and the Aug. 24 court date will give prosecutors and defense counsel time to assess evidence and consider appropriate charges.
For the Empire State Building and the city, the incident will likely prompt a review of physical barriers, surveillance coverage and lock integrity on upper floors. For the broader public it underscores how high-profile, social-media-visible stunts increase pressure on emergency services and prompt legal scrutiny; the outcome of this case will influence how similar acts are deterred, charged and adjudicated in the future.