Overview
- A U.S. Air Force member fell while rappelling from the Alamodome rafters during UTSA’s Salute to Armed Forces pregame and later died after being taken to a local hospital.
- The Air Force identified the deceased as Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a 15-year Tactical Air Control Party instructor assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2.
- Video and eyewitness accounts show the airman appeared to lose control and slide down the rope before striking the turf, and stadium medical teams treated him on the field before transport.
- Nellis Air Force Base has opened a formal investigation and has not released a cause or procedural findings, while UTSA, the American Conference and city officials activated support services for witnesses.
- The detachment trains terminal air controllers in fast-rope and rapid-rope techniques used operationally from helicopters, and the incident is likely to prompt review of safety procedures for public demonstrations.