Seattle Space Needle BASE jumpers caught on viral video
Two men BASE jumped from Seattle’s Space Needle on Friday evening after climbing over glass barriers on the observation deck, according to police and viral witness video. The suspects bought tickets, geared up in a restroom, then leapt with parachutes; officers have not found them, and the Space Needle called the stunt illegal.
Key Takeaways
- Two ticketed visitors climbed over the Space Needle’s glass barrier and BASE jumped Friday evening.
- Witness video shows both men backflipping off the observation deck before opening parachutes.
- Seattle police were alerted around 9:21 p.m.; the suspects have not been located.
- The Space Needle called the incident illegal and said it is cooperating with investigators.
The shocking Seattle stunt quickly spread online after visitors filmed the leap from the iconic tower, adding another chapter to the city’s run of bizarre news moments.
What happened at the Seattle Space Needle?
According to Seattle police, the BASE jump was reported around 9:21 p.m. Friday. Officers responded and spoke with Space Needle security guards about two men who had entered with purchased tickets scanned at the front entrance around 8:50 p.m.
Guards said the pair were later seen on camera at the top viewing level, standing around and possibly scouting, police said. They then entered a restroom and emerged wearing helmets.
Witnesses described a sudden scramble. Jacob Jarreau said he was waiting in line for the bathroom when the men burst out. Bri Ramos said the pair pushed past visitors and ran toward the glass before climbing up.
Both men approached a north-facing glass window with Lake Union in the background, climbed to the opposite side, and jumped. KOMO News reported they each did a backflip before successfully deploying parachutes. Space Needle security could not confirm where they landed.
How did witnesses react to the viral jump video?
Jarreau said the first moments were frightening because nobody knew what the men were doing. Once he spotted parachutes, he realized they were about to leap.
“The first two seconds I was scared, I thought they were doing something bad,” Jarreau said, later calling the leap illegal and “a pretty brazen act.” Multiple visitor videos shared on social media captured the climb and jump.
KOMO News noted the observation deck sits about 520 feet above the ground, while the tower peaks at 605 feet. BASE jumping involves leaping from fixed objects and opening a parachute at relatively low altitude compared with skydiving.
Are Seattle police still searching for the jumpers?
Yes. Police said the two suspects were not found after the jump. The Space Needle confirmed awareness of what it called an illegal incident and said it is reviewing security footage while assisting the Seattle Police Department investigation.
“We are aware of an illegal incident at the Space Needle and are working closely with the Seattle Police Department,” Space Needle representatives said. “We are reviewing security footage and assisting with the active investigation.”
The incident came ahead of a busy Seattle weekend that included major summer events such as the Seafair Torchlight Parade and the Bite of Seattle, with large crowds expected across the city. Police said they were still investigating and released no further details immediately.