Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a U.S. Air Force airman, fell 170 feet from the Alamodome ceiling during a fast‑rope demonstration on Saturday before the UTSA–Navy football game.
Patterson, a 15‑year veteran from Fort Stewart, Georgia, was part of the 6th Combat Training Squadron’s Detachment 2, which trains air combat controllers in high‑risk operations.
The fast‑rope exercise involved four personnel; each was descending a 170‑foot rope from the dome’s 170‑foot ceiling, simulating a helicopter‑borne rescue.
When he lost control, his line slipped and he fell. He was on a stretcher for about ten minutes before medical staff transported him to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
UTSA staff formed a semicircle around the wounded airman, and the band stopped playing as the crowd went silent.
The Air Force announced a formal review of its fast‑rope training procedures, while senior leaders, including Chief of Staff Frank Kendall, sent condolences to Patterson’s family. The American Conference expressed grief and said the game would continue; an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fall and review safety protocols.