Seattle Police Hunt Two Men Who Parachuted From Space Needle

SEATTLE — Seattle police are trying to identify two men who allegedly scaled the glass barrier at the city’s landmark Space Needle on Friday night, vaulted over the edge and parachuted from the 605-foot tower.

The pair could face trespassing charges, according to a report shared by Seattle Police Department Public Affairs Officer Brian Pritchard.

Investigators said the two BASE jumpers bought tickets and entered the Space Needle around 8:50 p.m. Friday. The famous Seattle attraction features a circular observation deck enclosed by tall glass panels, with the upper area open to the sky.

Police said surveillance video showed the men on the upper level before they went into a restroom and later emerged wearing helmets.

From there, authorities said, they rushed toward the glass, climbed over the barrier and leapt from the structure.

Space Needle security staff were not able to confirm where the men touched down, and responding officers did not find them. Authorities have not released their names and described them only as white men believed to be in their late 20s.

BASE jumping is a high-risk extreme sport in which participants jump from fixed objects and open parachutes during descent. The name comes from the types of launch points used: buildings, antennas, spans such as bridges, and Earth, meaning cliffs or other natural formations.

The Space Needle did not immediately respond Saturday to emailed requests for comment.