The Air Force has identified the service member who died from injuries suffered when he fell more than 150 feet from the rafters of the Alamodome in a horrifying Saturday night pregame accident.
Tech Sergeant Ian Patterson, of the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment two, at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, was identified as the airman who tragically died, Nellis Air Force Base said.
Patterson abruptly plummeted during a fast-rope demonstration from the rafters of the Alamodome before UTSA’s game against Navy.
He was treated on the field for around 10 minutes before being carted off and rushed to the hospital, where he later died, according to a statement from Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs. The incident is under investigation.
News of the Patterson’s death was first reported by Task and Purpose, an online publication that focuses on military affairs. The deceased Airman was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, a unit that conducts advanced skills training for special warfare Airmen.
A native of Fort Stewart, Georgia, Patterson had served honorably in the Air Force for 15 years, and was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, a unit that conducts advanced skills training for special warfare Airmen.
During his time in service, he was highly decorated, being awarded the Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, as well as the Army Commendation Medal, Air and Space Achievement Medal and Army Achievement Medal, each with one oak leaf cluster throughout his tenure the Air Force said.
Patterson was also named the Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year at the Headquarters Air Force level in 2022.
Video captured by San Antonio resident James Larken Smith showed the Sargent Ian Patterson mid plunge before hitting the ground
‘This tragedy is felt deeply across the 57th Wing,’ said US Air Force Brig Gen Scott C Mills, the wing’s commander.
‘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.’
Mills declared his gratitude to the San Antonio community and their mission partners at Base San Antonio praising the ‘care, compassion and support they have shown’.
‘Our relationship with local community partners is incredibly important to our Airmen, especially during difficult times like these,’ Mills added.
Clips filmed from multiple angles showed the Airman hitting the turf at tremendous speed as thousands of onlookers were left stunned in San Antonio.
Alamodome medics quickly rushed to the fallen Airman’s aid as he lay motionless, his body splayed at the 50 yard line.
‘Everybody was quiet, the band stopped performing. Everybody was dead silent,’ witness Adrian Corey told KSAT.
Adrian’s mother, Siomara, described the unsettling confusion after the accident.
A military member rappels from the stadium rafters in a previous demonstration
‘There was no updates after that other than asking for prayers, but it did not look good,’ she told KSAT.
A similar stunt was performed without incident before a 2025 game at the Alamodome between Army and UTSA.
Despite the pre-game incident, officials proceeded with kickoff after a 10-minute delay. UTSA went on to beat Navy, 38-34, and afterwards many players took part in a group prayer for the injured Airman.
‘I know we said a prayer postgame, but they’ll continue being our thoughts and prayers, and really thinking about them,’ Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown told reporters.
The American Conference, which includes both Navy and UTSA, decided to proceed with the game before it was revealed that Patterson had died, according to a Sunday statement.
‘During the game, representatives of both participating member institutions, Alamodome management and local authorities met with American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti and a working group to review the information available and discuss next steps,’ read the conference statement. ‘At the time of those discussions, Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs had not publicly confirmed the service member’s condition.
‘Air Force casualty notification and information-release procedures establish safeguards for notifying families and publicly releasing casualty information. In accordance with conference bylaws and with the support of both participating member institutions, the conference made the decision to continue the game.
Respect for the family’s privacy and adherence to the military’s notification process guided the decision to mitigate speculation about the service member’s medical status and avoid additional distress for his family.
The ceiling at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas is 180ft above the field
‘Later, at 11:40pm Eastern time, Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs confirmed that the service member had been injured during the pregame demonstration and transported to a local hospital, where he later died. We are grateful to the first responders and emergency personnel who provided immediate care on the field. Our hearts and prayers are with everyone impacted by this tragedy.’
UTSA has offered counseling services to students in need of assistance following the tragedy.
The viral X user known as Freddy was at the game and later shared a post about the incident before news of the Airman’s death had been publicized.
‘Another college game done,’ the semi-anonymous social media influencer and minor World Cup celebrity wrote on X amid his prolonged tour of the United States. ‘UTSA got the win against Navy! Thank you to all the nice people that we met today.
‘Unfortunately,’ he continued, ‘there was a serious accident before the game, which is why I stopped updating on here. Our thoughts are with the service member and his family.’
After the game, UTSA coach Jeff Traylor described the situation he faced in the locker room as his anxious team looked to take the field.
‘The only information I had was there had been an incident, and the game was going to be delayed, and we didn’t expand upon it any further than that,’ Traylor said, as quoted by the Express-News. ‘I didn’t know if I did the right thing or not. I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know what to tell them, so that’s how I handled it.
‘What I heard that happened is heartbreaking, but I want to give the family time,’ Traylor added. ‘They’re in our prayers. It’s tragic.’
