Fans and performers were left in stunned silence after an Air Force commando plunged to his death from the 170-foot rafters during a University of Texas at San Antonio football game, according to reports.
The unidentified airman fell while rappelling from the Alamodome’s roof during a fast-rope demonstration involving four military personnel. The event took place before UTSA’s “Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans” game against Navy.
The horrifying accident unfolded in front of tens of thousands of spectators and brought the performing band to an abrupt stop as UTSA staff hurried onto the field to help, witnesses told KSAT.
“Once the band started playing, there was a guy that fell down,” witness Adrian Corey told the outlet. “And started coming down fast.”
“Everyone was quiet, the band stopped performing. Everybody was dead silent,” Corey said.
The service member, assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, received medical treatment on the field for about 10 minutes before being carried away on a stretcher, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
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The Air Force commando was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
The four military personnel taking part in the pregame coin-toss demonstration train as air combat controllers. They are experienced in rappelling techniques used to descend from helicopters at heights of more than 100 feet.
The Alamodome, which is owned by the City of San Antonio, has a ceiling approximately 170 feet above the field.
“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,” San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said in a statement posted on social media.
“We will keep his family in our prayers. May perpetual light shine upon him.”
The American Conference also issued a statement on X, saying it was “deeply saddened” by the incident.
“We consulted with representatives of both participating member institutions, Alamodome management, local authorities and a working group to review the information available,” the conference wrote on Saturday.