A member of the Air Force has died after falling from the rafters of the Alamodome while attempting to rappel in a military demonstration before the football game between Navy and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
The military officer was reportedly halfway down on Saturday, October 17, before appearing to lose control, slide down the line and hit the ground. Medical personnel attended to the officer before transferring them off the field via a stretcher and transporting them to a nearby hospital.
The Air Force base did not release the service member’s identity, however, the military officer was part of the rappel team from Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron. In a statement after the incident, it was revealed that the individual was injured at the stadium and later died at a local hospital.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s football game,” UTSA shared in a message via X on Saturday. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues. We recognize that members of our campus community may be emotionally affected by this incident and are activating wellbeing services to support our faculty, staff and students.”
After a 10-minute delay, the game was played. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor told reporters after the game that the accident was “heartbreaking” and “tragic,” sharing that he had only been told there was an “incident” that had impacted the start time of the game. The team, however, could feel a shift in energy.
“There was something. You could just tell the energy was just gone. I’ve never had to deal with anything like that before. So it just puts things in perspective. It really does,” he said in his postgame press conference, before reflecting on the support of the fans. “It’s tough. It’s tough. I can’t imagine. The fans, everybody that was out there. I can’t imagine.”
The incident is currently under investigation. In a statement after the game, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones honored the military officer.
“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,” the mayor wrote via X on Sunday, October 18. “We will keep his family in our prayers. May perpetual light shine upon him.”
