Airman dies after falling 170 feet from Alamodome rafters at football game

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A 15-year Air Force veteran was identified as the service member killed before the University of Texas at San Antonio’s football game on Saturday.

Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson plunged 170 feet (51.8 metres) from the rafters of the Alamodome during a rappelling demonstration ahead of UTSA’s game against the U.S. Navy, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

The Georgia native was a tactical air control party instructor with the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, at Joint Base San Antonio, the Nellis Air Force Base said in a news release.

He was a decorated service member

During his time in service, he was awarded the Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, as well as the Army Commendation Medal, Air and Space Achievement Medal and Army Achievement Medal, each with one oak leaf cluster, according to the Air Force.

In 2022, Patterson was also named the Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year at the Headquarters Air Force level.

Details surrounding the incident are under investigation, Air Force officials said.

Videos shared online show the airman — one of four service members taking part in the demonstration ahead of the pregame coin toss — sliding out of control down the rope before crashing to the turf.

UTSA staff surrounded the service member as he received medical attention. He was then rushed to the hospital, where he died.

‘Did not look good’

One witness, Adrian Corey, told KSAT the place went “dead silent.”

He recalled: “Everybody was quiet, the band stopped performing. Everybody was dead silent.”

His mother, Siomara Corey, added: “There was no updates after that other than asking for prayers, but it did not look good.”

A similar stunt was performed without incident before a 2025 game at the Alamodome.

‘His service mattered immensely’

US Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott C. Mills, the 57th Wing’s commander, called Patterson’s death a “tragedy” that has been “felt deeply” across his entire unit.

“Tech. Sgt. Patterson and his service mattered immensely to our wing, and to the family, friends, and teammates who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him,” he continued.

“Our team is now focused on standing beside Ian’s family, loved ones, and fellow Airmen as we navigate this profound loss together.”

Mills also thanked the community for its support.

“We are grateful to the San Antonio community and our mission partners at Joint Base San Antonio for the care, compassion and support they have shown.”

More than 23,000 fans were in attendance for the annual Salute to Armed Forces game, though this is the first time UTSA and Navy faced off in a football matchup.

UTSA defeated the visiting Navy 38-34.

After the game, UTSA coach Jeff Traylor called the accident “heartbreaking” and “tragic,” according to the outlet, noting the normally loud home field crowd was understandably much more subdued, even before the airman’s death became known.

“You could tell the energy was just gone,” he said. “It just really puts things in perspective. It really does.”

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