2 climbers scale Empire State Building during dangerous heat wave
AccuWeather meteorologists said that at about 1,250 feet above the ground, temperatures were around 81 to 82 degrees with RealFeel® Temperatures in the lower 90s.
The climbers unfurled a banner that read “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace” while atop the Empire State Building. On their way down, one climber appeared to propose to the other.
Two people climbed to the top of the Empire State Building’s antenna in New York City Wednesday afternoon during a building heat wave and heat emergency in the Big Apple.
The masked climbers reached the upper portion of the landmark, unfurled a banner and appeared to get engaged while high above Midtown Manhattan. The New York Police Department said both people were taken into custody without incident around 1 p.m. Charges were pending, and the investigation remained ongoing.
A couple at the top of the Empire State Building tower on July 1, 2026, in New York, New York. (Image credit: WABC)
The climb happened as a dangerous heat waves unfolds across the eastern United States and Midwest this week. AccuWeather meteorologists said that at about 1,250 feet above the ground, temperatures were around 81 to 82 degrees, with RealFeel® Temperatures in the lower 90s. Winds at that height were blowing at 10 to 15 mph under a sunny sky.
The conditions added another layer of danger to an already risky stunt. Heat, sun exposure and gusty winds can make movement more difficult at extreme heights, especially on narrow structural surfaces with little protection from the elements.
A couple at the top of the Empire State Building tower on July 1, 2026, in New York, New York. (Image credit: WABC)
The climbers unfurled a banner that read, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace,” according to WABC video.
The quote is commonly attributed to Jimi Hendrix, but similar to William E. Gladstone, the 19th-century British prime minister.
One of the suspected climbers, Angela Nikolau, posted photos and video from the incident on Instagram. Her account includes posts showing Nikolau and co-climber Ivan Beerkus. CNN reports the couple scales skyscrapers as a hobby and was featured in a 2024 Netflix documentary, “Skywalkers: A Love Story."
It was not immediately clear how the pair reached the top of the 1,454-foot landmark. The antenna atop the Empire State Building transmits broadcast signals for many of New York City’s local television and radio stations.
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