A daredevil couple who climbed to the highest of the Empire State Constructing on Wednesday appeared to have damaged by way of a door to get to the antenna, investigators revealed Thursday earlier than the pair was given a supervised launch.
Officers couldn’t go as much as the couple throughout their stunt, which ended with one of many climbers proposing to the opposite, as a result of they needed to energy the antenna down for security, investigators mentioned.
Angela Nikolau and Vanya “Ivan” Beerkus, the couple who climbed to the highest of the Empire State Constructing spire, depart New York Metropolis Prison Court docket after their arraignment in New York Metropolis, July 2, 2026.
Bing Guan/Reuters
Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, each Russians with a present deal with in East Orange, New Jersey, have been charged with a number of felonies in Manhattan Prison Court docket together with reckless endangerment, housebreaking and different costs. They didn’t enter a plea.
“We are going to do supervised launch. We are going to do it at a low degree,” a choose mentioned Thursday.
Nonetheless regardless of the intense costs and harmful elements of their stunt, the 2 have been all smiles and kissed for cameras on Thursday because the newly engaged pair left court docket.
“We love New York,” Kuznetsov mentioned after the court docket look.
Empire State Constructing climbers Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau go away court docket in New York Metropolis, July 2, 2026.
ABC Information
Kuznetsov advised detectives he needed to “do one thing particular for his engagement,” based on the grievance.
Jason Krinsky, an lawyer who’s representing the couple, mentioned the district lawyer’s workplace “overcharged” the case.
“They’re making an attempt to ship a message,” Krinsky mentioned after the court docket look in regards to the prosecutors’ costs.
“So far as what I’ve seen, and I am certain you’ve gotten all seen, It was a message of affection. You understand, that is a pleasant factor.”
Angela Nikolau and Vanya “Ivan” Beerkus, the couple who climbed to the highest of the Empire State Constructing spire, depart New York Metropolis Prison Court docket after their arraignment in New York Metropolis, July 2, 2026.
Bing Guan/Reuters
The couple appeared in court docket carrying the identical black outfits that they had throughout their stunt. Their subsequent court docket look is August 24.
They held palms and smiled after they left court docket and barely spoke to reporters who requested questions in regards to the stunt and their wedding ceremony plans.
Simply earlier than the couple entered a subway, they posed for cameras with a protracted kiss.
Angela Nikolau and Vanya “Ivan” Beerkus, the couple who climbed to the highest of the Empire State Constructing spire, kiss on the Brooklyn Bridge-Metropolis Corridor practice station after departing New York Metropolis Prison Court docket after their arraignment, July 2, 2026.
Bing Guan/Reuters
The DA’s prison grievance supplied extra particulars on how the couple allegedly climbed their option to the 1,454 foot peak of the constructing.
The grievance alleges {that a} lock on the safety door to the Empire State Constructing’s 104th flooring, which gives entry to the constructing’s broadcast antenna, was damaged.
An officer advised prosecutors that there was a further security danger for the couple and first responders because the antenna “emits high-frequency radio alerts which might be highly effective sufficient to trigger hurt to the human physique,” the prison grievance mentioned.
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus stand on the antenna of the Empire State Constructing in New York Metropolis, July 1, 2026.
WABC
“Consequently, the antenna was powered down earlier than members of the NYPD Emergency Companies Unit might strategy the 2 people on and across the broadcast antenna,” the prison grievance mentioned.
First responders needed to wait half-hour whereas the antenna powered down earlier than they may strategy the couple, based on the grievance.
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus who received to the highest of the Empire State Constructing climb down the tower’s spire in New York Metropolis, July 1, 2026.
WABC
Nikolau and Kuznetsov, who’ve gained a web based following for his or her death-defying skyscraper climbs around the globe, stayed on prime of the construction for a number of minutes as cameras rolled on the motion earlier than they got here down the spire, the New York Police Division mentioned.
They unfurled a black banner with an obvious reference to a Jimi Hendrix quote and mentioned in white letters, “When the facility of affection beats the love of energy the world is aware of peace.”
Kuznetsov, who’s often known as Ivan Beerkus, appeared to suggest to his longtime girlfriend earlier than they have been taken into custody.
They posted shut up pictures of the proposal and the ring on social media earlier than they have been taken into custody.
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus unfurl a banner on the prime of the Empire State Constructing in New York Metropolis, July 1, 2026.
WABC
Safety was purported to have been strengthened following earlier makes an attempt by trespassers to take selfies close to the spire.
Officers mentioned they consider the 2 could have noticed constructing workers and used a employee entrance to get across the screening.
