SEATTLE — Two men climbed over glass barriers and jumped from the Space Needle on Friday evening in an incident captured in numerous videos shared on social media.
The BASE jump was reported to Seattle police (SPD) at around 9:21 p.m. Officers arrived and contacted two Space Needle security guards.
The guards explained that at about 8:50 p.m. the two suspects entered the Space Needle with purchased tickets that were scanned at the front entrance. Later, both suspects were seen on camera at the top level for viewing, standing around possibly scouting, Seattle police said.
The suspects entered the restroom and came out with their helmets on, according to SPD.
Both suspects then approached the glass window facing northbound, with Lake Union in the background; the two men then ran and jumped over to the opposite side of the glass.
A file image of the observation deck atop the Space Needle. (Image: Caroline Anne / Seattle Refined) Feb. 25, 2026
Both were on the ledge and did a back flip off, according to SPD. Space Needle security officers were uncertain of the location where they landed.
The two suspects were not found by officers, according to SPD.
The Space Needle confirmed it is aware of what it described as an illegal incident and said it is cooperating with investigators.
“We are aware of an illegal incident at the Space Needle and are working closely with the Seattle Police Department,” the landmark said in a statement. “We are reviewing security footage and assisting with the active investigation.”
The Space Needle did not provide additional details about the individuals involved or the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Videos on social media captured by visitors at the Space Needle show two people reportedly BASE jumping.
The two individuals climbed over the glass, doing back flips before disappearing.
Other videos showed the individuals using parachutes, gliding down.
BASE jumping is an extreme sport where people leap from fixed objects—Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges), and the Earth (cliffs)—and use a parachute to land.
BASE stands for:
Buildings – fixed structures like skyscrapers or towers.Antennas – communication masts or radio towers.Spans – bridges and overpasses.Earth – natural cliffs, mountains, and rock formations.
BASE jumping differs From Skydiving due to the altitude: Jumps happen at much lower heights, usually between 100 and 4,000 feet above the ground.
The Space Needle observation deck, where the jumping incident took place, is located at 520 feet above the ground, while the total peak height of the entire tower reaches 605 feet.
Jumpers use a single, specialized parachute container with no reserve parachute.
There are risks and training involved; BASE jumping carries a significantly higher risk of injury or death than traditional skydiving.
The incident occurred ahead of a busy weekend packed with events in Seattle, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to turn out across the city, including for the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade and the Bite of Seattle.
The two men have not been identified by authorities and were only described as white men in their late 20s.
Seattle police are investigating. No additional information was immediately released.