Authorities in Seattle are investigating after two people climbed through the glass wall of the iconic Space Needle and parachuted from the roof of the 605-foot landmark building.
The incident occurred on the night of July 24 after two men bought tickets and entered a public attraction, Seattle police told USA TODAY in an email. Just after 9:21 p.m. local time, officers responded to the Space Needle after receiving reports that two men had parachuted from the roof of the building.
Preliminary investigation revealed that two unidentified individuals were seen on surveillance cameras entering the building and “possibly conducting reconnaissance” on the top floor. Shortly after, they went into the bathroom and came out wearing helmets.
Police said the two then approached a north-facing glass window and “ran and jumped to the other side of the glass.” Police said the men “climbed onto a ledge and did a backflip.”
Seattle police said guards were unsure where they had landed. It was not immediately clear if either of the people who jumped were injured.
Police told USA TODAY that the men, described as white men in their late 20s, remain at large. The jumpers could face charges including trespassing.
A video circulating online showed two men climbing over glass and jumping.
Space Needle jump takes place after deadly incident in Utah
The stunt comes just over a month after two people were killed in a BASE jump incident in Utah on June 14th. The death occurred in a remote area of Mineral Bottom Canyon outside Moab, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office announced last month.
The agency identified the first victim as Andy Ruiz, a 39-year-old extreme sports athlete who appeared with Madonna during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show. He was the owner of BASE Jump Moab in Utah and Moab Swingers, a rope swing in Utah.
Authorities identified the second victim as Danny Joe Cregle, 68, of Arizona.
Anyone with information about the Space Needle incident is asked to call Seattle Police at 206-625-5011.
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
