Couple arrested after scaling Empire State Building and proposing at its summit
Two individuals climbed to the top of New York City's Empire State Building, displayed a banner and a marriage proposal, and were later taken into custody by police.
Two people dressed in masks ascended the Empire State Building’s transmission tower around noon on Wednesday, unfurled a banner that read, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace," and then staged a marriage proposal at the structure’s highest point. Police said the pair were later detained without injury.
Witness Julie Morris, who observed the incident from the observation deck, said she saw the individuals open the mesh gates and climb to the top, assuming they were authorized. The New York Police Department deployed a helicopter and officers from its Emergency Services Unit to the scene. At approximately 12:35 p.m., the man knelt on a lower platform and proposed, after which the couple embraced and kissed.
Authorities indicated the suspects could face charges such as trespass and reckless endangerment. Former CBS News chief engineer John Cleary warned that climbing a live transmission tower poses significant hazards, including exposure to radio-frequency energy and the absence of safety harnesses. The Empire State Building’s observation deck was cleared after the incident.
The building’s top floor stands at 1,250 feet, with the full height, including the transmission tower, reaching 1,454 feet. This is not the first unauthorized climb; actor Jared Leto scaled the tower in 2023 with permission.
