parks
How Empire State Building climbers pulled off death-defying stunt: ‘Security always has a blindspot’
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· July 3, 2026
· 7 min read
By Ray Sanchez, John Miller, CNN
New York (CNN) — Extreme climber Angelina Nikolau, in the trailer for the 2024 Netflix documentary, “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” said: “Love is like heights. The fear never goes away. You just get better at facing it.”
On Wednesday, Nikolau, 33, who goes by Ang...
Key takeaway On Instagram, Nikolau posted photos and video from the climb, along with a shot of her glittering engagement ring with the city in the background.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The daring stunt at the Empire State Building raises questions about security vulnerabilities in iconic landmarks, a concern that resonates with El Paso 's own experience in balancing public access with safety. While the Empire State Building's security breach may seem distant, El Paso's own public spaces, such as parks and plazas, face similar challenges in ensuring visitor safety. The fact that the couple was able to hide in a maintenance room overnight highlights the potential for blindspots in even the most secure locations. As El Paso continues to develop its own public attractions and events, the city's authorities would do well to study the security measures in place at landmarks like the Empire State Building and consider how to apply those lessons locally to prevent similar incidents. This incident serves as a reminder for local authorities to review and strengthen their own security protocols.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 3, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 7 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Ray Sanchez, John Miller, CNN
New York (CNN) — Extreme climber Angelina Nikolau, in the trailer for the 2024 Netflix documentary, “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” said: “Love is like heights. The fear never goes away. You just get better at facing it.”
On Wednesday, Nikolau, 33, who goes by Ang...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 3, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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