The Air Force has identified the service member who died after falling from the 170-foot rafters in front of thousands of stunned spectators at a University of Texas at San Antonio football game Saturday.
Nellis Air Force Base said the airman was Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, who served with the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.
Patterson was taking part in a fast-rope demonstration before UTSA faced Navy when he fell from the Alamodome’s rafters.
Videos shared on social media appeared to show Patterson losing control and sliding down the rope. He was one of four service members scheduled to participate in the demonstration ahead of the pregame coin toss.
Medics treated Patterson on the field for approximately 10 minutes before transporting him to a hospital, where he later died.
A native of Fort Stewart, Georgia, Patterson served honorably in the Air Force for 15 years.
His decorations included the Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, along with the Army Commendation Medal, Air and Space Achievement Medal and Army Achievement Medal, each carrying one oak leaf cluster, according to the Air Force.
In 2022, Patterson was selected as the Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year at the Headquarters Air Force level.
“This tragedy is felt deeply across the 57th Wing,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott C. Mills, the wing’s commander.
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“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.”
“Our relationship with local community partners is incredibly important to our Airmen, especially during difficult times like these,” Mills added.
“We are grateful to the San Antonio community and our mission partners at Joint Base San Antonio for the care, compassion and support they have shown.”
The Alamodome, owned by the City of San Antonio, has a ceiling approximately 170 feet above the floor.
More than 23,000 people attended Saturday’s game.
UTSA officials said they were concerned both for the airman and for spectators who witnessed the fall.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s football game. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues,” a university spokesperson told the San Antonio Express-News.
“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.”