Seattle police are seeking two men who leaped from the Space Needle on Friday night, deploying parachutes to descend from the 605-foot structure. The incident occurred around 8:50 p.m. when the two men, described as white males in their late 20s, purchased tickets to access the observation deck.
According to police reports, the individuals entered a restroom at the top of the Space Needle and emerged wearing helmets. They then proceeded to climb over the glass wall of the observation deck and jumped.
Security personnel at the Space Needle were unable to determine where the jumpers landed. Police searched the area but could not locate the individuals. Authorities have not yet identified the men.
Base jumping, an extreme sport involving parachute jumps from fixed objects, is an acronym derived from the types of structures jumpers typically use: buildings, antennas, spans (bridges), and Earth. The Space Needle has previously been a target for such stunts. The men involved in Friday's jump face trespassing charges.