An Air Force instructor died Saturday after falling 170 feet from the Alamodome rafters during a pregame rappelling demonstration ahead of the University of Texas at San Antonio football game. The service member was identified as Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a 15-year veteran from Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Fall From the Alamodome Rafters Before UTSA Kickoff
The incident occurred roughly 15 minutes before the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners faced the Navy Midshipmen on October 17, 2026. Four military service members assigned to Detachment 2 of the Air Force’s 6th Combat Training Squadron were scheduled to rappel from the arena ceiling as part of the school’s annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans pregame ceremony. Witnesses in the crowd of more than 23,000 spectators watched as the descent turned fatal.
Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a Tactical Air Control Party instructor with the 6th Combat Training Squadron Detachment 2, lost control about halfway down while rappelling from the Alamodome rafters during the pregame demo before the Oct. 17 UTSA-Navy game. He slid uncontrollably and…
Adrian Corey, a fan attending the game with his family, told KSAT that excitement among the audience built during the band performance before turning to horror. Once I saw him come down fast, I like, I (did not) know what to think,
Corey said. He fell all the way down and then everybody, like they said, ooh, and went silent.
University staff members formed a semicircle around the fallen airman on the 50-yard line while emergency personnel provided medical assistance for approximately 10 minutes. He was then transported from the field on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson and His Military Career
The U.S. Air Force identified the fallen airman as Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a Tactical Air Control Party instructor. Patterson served 15 years in the armed forces and was assigned to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. His unit trains specialists who embed with Army and Marine units to direct air and artillery strikes from forward ground locations, training that involves fast-roping from helicopters at heights exceeding 100 feet.
Patterson earned numerous decorations during his career, including the Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air and Space Achievement Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. In 2022, the Air Force named him the Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year at the Headquarters Air Force level.
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. Our team is now focused on standing beside Ian’s family, loved ones, and fellow Airmen as we navigate this profound loss together.
American Conference Decision to Continue the Game
As medical personnel attended to Patterson on the field, conference officials, university representatives, and Alamodome management convened a working group to review the unfolding situation. American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti met with stakeholders during the game to evaluate available information and determine next steps.
Because Nellis Air Force Base had not yet publicly released casualty information due to military notification procedures protecting family privacy, the conference proceeded with the match. The choice to cut down on speculation regarding the service member’s medical condition and prevent further pain for his relatives was driven by a commitment to the family’s privacy and following the military’s notification procedures. Kickoff was delayed by approximately 10 minutes, and UTSA defeated Navy 38-34.
Reflecting on the atmosphere inside the stadium after play resumed, UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor told reporters that the tragedy altered the mood of the evening. You could tell the energy was just gone,
Traylor said, as reported by CBS News. It just really puts things in perspective. It really does.
Community Response and Ongoing Investigation
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones posted a message on social media offering prayers for the airman’s family, while Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody commended students who formed a protective huddle around the injured service member on the turf. To honor his memory, UTSA announced plans to display a solemn white candle on campus monuments and student union tower lights throughout the week.
Military authorities confirmed that the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal fall remain under investigation by the Air Force.