NEW YORK — Newly released NYPD body camera footage captures the dramatic moment officers confronted a daredevil couple moments after they illegally climbed to the top of the Empire State Building’s antenna, where they unfurled a peace banner and became engaged more than 1,400 feet above Manhattan.
The footage, released by the New York Police Department, shows Emergency Service Unit officers making their way onto the restricted spire before calmly approaching the pair, who had just completed the unauthorized climb.
“You can’t be up here,” one officer tells the climbers as they stand on the narrow platform near the building’s antenna. The encounter remains calm, with the pair complying with officers’ instructions before being taken into custody.
Police identified the climbers as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, internationally known “rooftoppers” who have built large online followings by scaling some of the world’s tallest buildings without safety equipment. The couple previously starred in the 2024 documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which chronicled their high-risk urban climbing exploits.
Authorities say the pair climbed to the top of the Empire State Building’s 1,454-foot antenna while dressed in black clothing and face coverings. Once at the summit, they unfurled a large banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
After spending several minutes atop the spire, the couple descended to a lower platform where Beerkus got down on one knee and proposed. Nikolau accepted before the two embraced high above the city as helicopters circled overhead and crowds gathered below to watch the unfolding spectacle.
The proposal quickly spread across social media as videos captured from surrounding buildings showed the couple balancing on the narrow structure without any visible safety harnesses.
The incident prompted a significant emergency response, with NYPD officers climbing the spire while aviation units monitored the situation from above. No injuries were reported, and authorities said there was no danger to visitors or employees inside the Empire State Building.
Investigators are still working to determine how the couple gained access to the restricted area above the building’s public observation decks. The investigation remains ongoing.
The newly released body camera footage provides a rare look at the final moments of the high-profile stunt, documenting the officers’ careful approach and the climbers’ peaceful surrender after one of New York City’s most daring unauthorized ascents in recent years.