The Air Force has identified the service member who died after falling more than 150 feet from the rafters of San Antonio’s Alamodome during a horrifying pregame accident Saturday night.
Tech Sgt. Ian Patterson, assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, was the airman who suffered the fatal injuries, Nellis Air Force Base said.
Patterson fell suddenly during a fast-rope demonstration from the Alamodome rafters before the University of Texas at San Antonio’s game against Navy.
Medics treated him on the field for about 10 minutes before he was taken away and transported to a hospital, where he later died, according to a statement from Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs. The accident remains under investigation.
News of Patterson’s death was first reported by Task and Purpose, an online publication covering military affairs. Patterson was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, which provides advanced skills training for Air Force special warfare personnel.
A native of Fort Stewart, Georgia, Patterson had served honorably in the Air Force for 15 years. His unit, the 6th Combat Training Squadron, is responsible for advanced training for special warfare Airmen.
Over the course of his military career, Patterson received numerous honors, including the Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters. He was also awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Air and Space Achievement Medal and Army Achievement Medal, each with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force said.
In 2022, Patterson was named the Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year at the Headquarters Air Force level.
Video captured by San Antonio resident James Larken Smith showed Sergeant Ian Patterson in mid-plunge before he struck the ground
“This tragedy is felt deeply across the 57th Wing,” said U.S. 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 also expressed his gratitude to the San Antonio community and 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.
Videos filmed from several angles showed the airman striking the turf at tremendous speed, leaving thousands of spectators stunned inside the San Antonio stadium.
Alamodome medical personnel rushed to Patterson’s aid as he lay motionless on the field near the 50-yard line.
“Everybody was quiet, the band stopped performing. Everybody was dead silent,” witness Adrian Corey told KSAT.
Corey’s mother, Siomara, described the confusion and distress that followed the fall.
A military member rappels from the stadium rafters during a previous demonstration
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“There were no updates after that other than asking for prayers, but it did not look good,” she told KSAT.
A similar rappelling demonstration took place without incident before a 2025 Alamodome game 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.’