A U.S. Air Force service member has died after falling from the ceiling of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, during a pregame military demonstration before the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners faced the Navy Midshipmen on Saturday, October 17. The airman has not been publicly identified.
What Happened
The fall happened during UTSA’s annual “Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans” game, as part of a pregame ceremony ahead of the coin toss. Four military personnel were scheduled to descend by rope from the stadium’s ceiling, which is roughly 170 feet high, to the field.
Video shared on social media shows one of the service members losing control during the descent and falling to the turf as fans scream in the background. Medical personnel rushed onto the field and treated the airman for about 10 minutes, while UTSA staff members formed a semicircle around him, the San Antonio Express-News reported. He was then taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs later confirmed that the service member died from the injuries he sustained. The game was delayed by about 10 minutes. A crowd of 23,297 attended.
“Everybody was quiet, the band stopped performing. Everybody was dead silent,” Adrian Corey, who witnessed the fall, told KSAT.
Who Was Involved
According to the reports, the four service members taking part in the demonstration belonged to Detachment 2 of the Air Force’s 6th Combat Training Squadron, based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The unit trains air combat controllers, including in rappelling techniques used to descend from helicopters at heights above 100 feet. The airman’s name, rank and hometown have not been released.
Investigation
The cause of the fall has not been announced. Officials have not said whether equipment, rigging, conditions inside the stadium or another factor was involved, and no cause should be assumed until investigators release their findings. The Air Force and the San Antonio Police Department had not released additional details at the time of reporting.
Statements From UTSA and the American Conference
UTSA said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s football game. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues.” The university added that it is activating wellbeing services for faculty, staff and students who may be affected.
The American Conference, which organizes the game, said it was coordinating with local authorities. “The American Conference is deeply saddened by tonight’s pregame incident at the Alamodome. Our thoughts are with the individual involved, their family and colleagues, and everyone who witnessed or was affected by it,” a spokesperson said on X. The conference said it had consulted with both schools, Alamodome management, local authorities and a working group, would respect the family’s privacy, and would help connect those affected with support resources.
What’s Next
The investigation is ongoing, and the airman’s name is expected to be released by the Air Force after his family has been notified. This is a developing story.
