A Russian couple was arrested in New York after scaling the spire of the Empire State Building to stage a marriage proposal. The pair, identified as Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33, climbed to the antenna’s narrow top on Wednesday, displaying a black banner bearing a message about world peace. Their stunt, which they streamed on social media, ended when police took them into custody without incident. Authorities have charged them with trespassing, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and disorderly conduct.

The Empire State Building’s management described the act as an unauthorized intrusion, noting that visitors are not permitted to climb beyond the 102nd-floor observation deck. A spokesperson humorously remarked that the couple could have rented the deck through the building’s official proposal package instead. Nikolau’s father, Russian circus performer Dmitry Nikolau, said he was aware of his daughter’s plan and expressed no concern about her arrest.

The incident occurred amid heightened citywide excitement over upcoming celebrations and events, including the United States’ 250th Independence anniversary festivities.