Air Force service member dies after fall from Alamodome rafters

Fall from Alamodome rafters leaves military service member dead

An Air Force service member has died following a horrifying pregame rappelling accident inside the Alamodome on Saturday, October 17. The service member, whose identity is being withheld pending family notifications, was taking part in a rappelling demonstration from the stadium rafters ahead of the annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game between UT San Antonio (UTSA) and Navy. According to reports from the San Antonio Express-News, one of four service members set to descend to the field appeared to slide down in an uncontrolled manner, crashing to the ground. Witnesses in the stands described the scene as surreal and awful, noting that the Alamodome roof stands around 170ft above the field.

Medical personnel rushed to the field immediately after the impact to treat the injured airman. He was placed on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital by the San Antonio Fire Department, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs confirmed the service member's death on Sunday, stating that the individual was assigned to Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron, an Air Force unit that operates from the Chapman Training Annex at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and Camp Bullis, supporting training for tactical air controllers and helping train military members to rappel down from helicopters.

The tragedy cast an immediate shadow over the evening kickoff, forcing a temporary delay of around 10 minutes. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor kept his team in the locker room while medical staff tended to the fallen airman on the turf. 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. 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. Traylor added that he had never dealt with anything like it before and noted that players could tell the energy had drained from the stadium, making for a somber environment once play finally resumed.

Investigation launched into pregame demonstration tragedy

Athletes and institutional leaders alike expressed shock as the reality of the accident filtered through the stadium. UTSA quarterback Owen McCown spoke of the emotional toll on the team following the final whistle. It's hard. I just think as players too, my thoughts go immediately with the family, McCown said. It's obviously bigger than football. And then as just the game went on, kind of got the ebbs and flows, and getting back to playing football. And I thought at first, it was hard to get around, and then finally got going again. McCown also mentioned that the team said a prayer postgame for the affected service member and his loved ones.

• The unidentified fallen service member assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2
• The family and military colleagues of the deceased airman
• UTSA football players and coaching staff dealing with a somber, disrupted game environment
• Spectators in the Alamodome crowd who witnessed the uncontrolled fall from the 170-foot rafters

University officials released a formal statement addressing the tragedy shortly after the event concluded. We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight's game, UTSA said in a statement. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues.

A spokesperson for Nellis Air Force Base confirmed that the incident is currently under investigation. As military investigators and local authorities examine the safety protocols surrounding the pregame rappel, the Air Force has yet to release the name of the deceased officer, leaving the military community and the public waiting for further official updates.