An Air Force service member has died after falling more than 150 feet from the Alamodome’s rafters during a pregame demonstration Saturday night, Air Force officials confirmed.
The service member, whose identity has not been released, was one of four personnel rappelling from the stadium ceiling before the Navy-UTSA football game. He reportedly slipped down the rope before crashing onto the field at high speed.
He was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs. The circumstances surrounding the fall remain under investigation.
The death was first reported by Task and Purpose, a publication covering military affairs. The Airman was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, which provides advanced skills training for special warfare Airmen.
Videos recorded from several vantage points showed the Airman striking the field as thousands of spectators watched in shock. Alamodome medical personnel immediately ran to assist him.
Initial reports from the San Antonio Express-News said he was removed from the field and transported to a nearby hospital.
Video recorded by San Antonio resident James Larken Smith captured the moment the service member hit the field
A military service member rappels from the stadium rafters during an earlier demonstration
‘The entire place went quiet, the band stopped playing. Everyone was completely silent,’ witness Adrian Corey told KSAT.
Adrian’s mother, Siomara, said the moments after the accident were marked by uncertainty and concern.
‘There were no updates afterward apart from requests for prayers, but it did not look good,’ she told KSAT.
A similar rappelling demonstration took place without incident before a 2025 Army-UTSA game at the Alamodome.
Saturday’s game began after a 10-minute delay. UTSA ultimately defeated Navy, 38-34, and many players gathered for a team prayer afterward for the injured Airman.
‘I know we said a prayer after the game, but they will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers, and we are truly thinking about them,’ Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown told reporters.
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The American Conference, home to both Navy and UTSA, issued a statement Saturday before the Airman’s death was announced.
‘The American Conference is deeply saddened by tonight’s pregame incident at the Alamodome,’ the statement said. ‘Our thoughts are with the individual involved, their family and colleagues, as well as everyone who witnessed or was affected 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 statement continued. ‘We respect the family’s privacy and will coordinate any further updates with the appropriate authorities. We are also working with our member institutions to help connect those affected with available support resources.’
The Alamodome ceiling in San Antonio, Texas, rises 180 feet above the field
In a statement to the Daily Mail, a UTSA spokesperson said: ‘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.’
‘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.’
The school has offered counselling services to students in need of assistance.
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.’