Two window washers were rescued Friday morning after they became trapped on a broken scaffolding that was swaying dangerously in high winds outside a high-rise building in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle.

Firefighters responded to a 911 call at 9:47 a.m. reporting that the workers were stranded outside the 78th floor of 25 Columbus Circle, according to FDNY Deputy Chief Michael Trahan, who spoke at a press conference later that day.

The scaffolding had broken free from the building, with only security lines keeping it from falling, Trahan explained.

Videos captured from the ground showed the suspended platform being whipped around by strong winds, at times slamming into the side of the building.

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The impact shattered a window on the 78th floor, sending glass raining onto the street below, according to Trahan.

“When they got up onto the 78th floor, they saw the window was blown out, glass everywhere,” he said.

Although the two window washers were wearing harnesses, FDNY officials discovered they were not attached to security lines, raising the danger of a potential fall, Trahan said.

Authorities secured the street below to protect pedestrians, while firefighters worked to stabilize the scaffolding with ropes to prevent further movement.

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Lieutenant Nick Schneider of Ladder Four, who was part of the rescue team, explained that FDNY used a life-saving rope system, tying it to a secure object inside the building to pull the workers to safety.

The two workers were successfully pulled into the building and were transported to Cornell Hospital in stable condition, Trahan confirmed.

Schneider described the extreme danger posed not only to the workers but also to the FDNY members conducting the rescue.

“It was extremely dangerous for, obviously, the occupants of the scaffolding, but initially when we got on scene it was extremely dangerous for members of the FDNY,” Schneider said.

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“We had to be careful for our members. We were operating essentially on the ledge of a 78-story building.”

According to Schneider, residents were inside the apartment unit where the window was shattered when the incident occurred.

As of 12:30 p.m., yellow caution tape remained in place, blocking off the area near the corner of 58th Street and 8th Avenue. Onlookers gathered at the scene, trying to get a glimpse of the aftermath.

A local resident who lives just a block away described the unusual commotion.

“I knew something was going on because I told myself … all these people looking up can’t be tourists,” he said.

Reflecting on the danger of the incident, he added, “That must have been scary for the people up there.”

Authorities have not yet disclosed what caused the scaffolding to detach from the building. The incident remains under investigation.

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