Two New York City window washers were rescued Friday morning after their scaffold began swinging uncontrollably more than 70 stories above Midtown Manhattan. The dramatic incident took place at 25 Columbus Circle, near 58th Street and Ninth Avenue, leaving bystanders in shock as the scaffolding repeatedly smashed into the skyscraper.
Scaffolding Malfunction Sends Glass Raining Down
Video footage captured the terrifying moment as the suspended platform swung violently, shattering multiple windows on the 78th floor and sending glass crashing onto the sidewalk below.
- Location: 25 Columbus Circle, Upper West Side
- Height: Over 70 stories up
- Cause: High winds and unsecured scaffolding
- Response: NYPD and FDNY emergency rescue
Firefighters Perform Daring Rescue
FDNY Lt. Nick Schneider and his team rushed to the 78th floor, where they found at least three windows blown out.
Key Discovery: The workers had safety harnesses but were not secured to safety lines, putting them at extreme risk.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Schneider said. “The fact that they weren’t tied off was shocking.”
Rescue Operation:
- Firefighters secured the workers with ropes
- Pulled them safely inside through the broken windows
- EMS treated them and transported them to the hospital in stable condition
Eyewitness Accounts: “It Was Awful”
Local vendor Mohamad Sherif, who operates a halal cart nearby, described the terrifying scene:
“It was awful, moving like that for almost 15 minutes. Glass fell all over the sidewalk, even on the bottom of my cart.”
NYPD Deputy Chief Michael Trahan confirmed:
“The scaffolding wasn’t attached properly, and it was swinging around, just smacking into the building.”
Aftermath & Investigation
- No injuries were reported among pedestrians or building occupants.
- A private rigging company has been tasked with removing the scaffolding.
- The New York Department of Buildings is investigating the scaffolding failure.
