Russian acrobatic couple arrested after scaling Empire State Building for proposal

A daring proposal atop the Empire State Building ended in handcuffs for a Russian acrobatic couple. Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33, scaled the iconic skyscraper without safety equipment on Wednesday. From the transmission tower, nearly 443 meters above New York City, they unfurled a banner quoting Jimi Hendrix: "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."

The couple, who reside in East Orange, New Jersey, documented their illegal ascent on social media. As they began their descent, Kuznetsov proposed to Nikolau on one of the tower's platforms. She accepted, and the pair embraced before being apprehended by law enforcement.

New York City police and a special response unit responded to the incident, temporarily closing streets around the building and evacuating the observation deck. Fortunately, no one was injured. The couple, who have a history of scaling tall buildings without safety gear, now face charges including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass, unauthorized modification of property, and disorderly conduct.

Empire State Building representatives confirmed the incident was resolved in cooperation with the police, assuring that visitors and tenants were never in danger. They also pointed out that the building officially offers proposal opportunities on its observation deck, ensuring safety. Experts, however, warned of the extreme risks associated with climbing the tower due to electrical equipment and transmission antennas.

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When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace