Alamodome fast-rope demonstration fall

Air Force service member dies after falling during pregame fast-rope demonstration at Alamodome before UTSA-Navy football game.

3 stories238 sourcesUpdated Oct 23, 2026

In this storyline:United States Air Force Alamodome Ian Patterson Navy Midshipmen football UTSA Roadrunners football

Alamodome fast-rope demonstration fall — Photo: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Key developments

Oct 19, 2026
A service member lost control and fell at high speed in an Alamodome pregame rappel before UTSA-Navy on Oct. 17.
205 sources on this →
Oct 19, 2026
Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a 15-year Air Force veteran and instructor, died after falling from the Alamodome rafters during a pregame fast-rope demonstration before UTSA’s football game against Navy.
27 sources on this →
Oct 23, 2026
The Air Force’s 6th Combat Training Squadron has suspended rappelling and ropes training and demonstrations until further notice after Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson died following a fall during a pregame…
6 sources on this →

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Stories in this storyline

World

Air Force Squadron Halts Rappelling After Fatal Fall

Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson died after falling from Alamodome rafters in a pregame demo; his squadron suspended all rappelling and rope training.

6 sources

World

Air Force Identifies Sergeant Killed in Alamodome Fast-Rope Fall

Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a 15-year Air Force veteran, died after falling from the Alamodome rafters during a fast-rope demonstration before a UTSA-Navy game.

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Service Member Hospitalized After Alamodome Fall

A service member lost control and fell at high speed in an Alamodome pregame rappel before UTSA-Navy on Oct. 17, was treated on the field about 10 minutes, then stretchered to a hospital.

205 sources