Fans and performers were left stunned and silent after an Air Force commando suffered a fatal fall from the 170-foot rafters during a University of Texas at San Antonio football game, reports said.
The unidentified airman lost his footing while rappelling from the roof of the Alamodome during a fast-rope demonstration involving four military personnel. The exhibition took place before UTSA’s “Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans” matchup against Navy.
The fall unfolded in front of tens of thousands of spectators inside the stadium. Witnesses told KSAT that the marching band abruptly stopped playing as UTSA staff hurried onto the field to help the injured service member.
“Once the band started playing, there was a guy that fell down,” witness Adrian Corey told the outlet. “And started coming down fast.”
“Everyone was quiet, the band stopped performing. Everybody was dead silent,” Corey added.
The service member, assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, was treated on the field for about 10 minutes before being taken away on a stretcher, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
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He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
The four participants had been scheduled to perform the demonstration during the pregame coin toss. They train as air combat controllers and are experienced in rappelling techniques used to descend from helicopters at heights of more than 100 feet.
The Alamodome, which is owned by the City of San Antonio, has a ceiling approximately 170 feet above the field.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of an Air Force service member following an unfortunate accident at Saturday’s UTSA-Navy football game,” San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said in a social media statement.
“We will keep his family in our prayers. May perpetual light shine upon him.”
The American Conference also expressed condolences, writing on X that it was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.
“We consulted with representatives of both participating member institutions, Alamodome management, local authorities and a working group to review the information available,” the conference said Saturday.
