Air Force Instructor Ian Patterson Dies in 170-Foot Fall at Alamodome

An Air Force instructor died Saturday night after falling while rappelling from the ceiling of the Alamodome in San Antonio, minutes before the University of Texas at San Antonio kicked off against Navy.

Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs identified him as Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a Tactical Air Control Party instructor assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. He was injured at the stadium and died at a local hospital.

Witnesses said Patterson was taking part in a rappelling demonstration from the stadium's ceiling, a drop of about 170 feet. Four service members were scheduled to come down to the field 15 minutes before kickoff as part of UTSA's annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game.

The Air Force says the incident is under investigation.

The fall happened just before 7 p.m.

The San Antonio Fire Department said the fall came just before 7 p.m. at the Alamodome, where the Roadrunners were hosting Navy. Fans were already in the stands and a band had assembled on the field.

"Once the band started playing, there was a guy that fell down," witness Adrian Corey said, "and started coming down fast." Corey recorded the fall on his cellphone.

Video posted online shows Patterson in combat fatigues descending quickly, feet first, before hitting the turf. He came to rest near the middle of the field, close to the 50-yard line. A man is seen running toward him and waving for help.

UTSA staff surrounded him as he was treated, witnesses said. "Everybody was quiet; the band stopped performing," Corey said. Another witness, Siomara Corey, said there were no updates afterward other than requests for prayers.

Medical personnel worked on Patterson on the field for roughly 10 minutes. Fire department spokesman Joe Arrington said crews responded after a call about someone falling during a pregame event, and that the individual was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was transported as a Priority 1 patient, a designation used for a life-threatening medical emergency.

Fifteen years in uniform and a 2022 instructor award

Patterson was from Fort Stewart, Georgia, and had served 15 years in the Air Force, the base said Sunday night.

His decorations included the Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, along with the Army Commendation Medal, the Air and Space Achievement Medal and the Army Achievement Medal, each with one oak leaf cluster.

In 2022 he was named 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," Brig. Gen. Scott C. Mills, the 57th Wing commander, said in a statement Sunday night. "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."

What a TACP instructor actually does

Tactical Air Control Party specialists embed with Army and Marine units and help direct air and artillery strikes from forward ground locations, according to an Air Force website. Part of their training is learning to drop rapidly by rope, sometimes from helicopters that are 100 feet or more above the ground.

The 6th Combat Training Squadron trains service members from across the military. The squadron is headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, while Detachment 2 operates out of Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis.

Video circulating online appeared to show Patterson losing control during the descent and sliding down the line before crashing onto the turf.

Why UTSA and Navy played the game anyway

Kickoff was pushed back about 10 minutes, and the game went on. UTSA won 38-34.

The American Conference said the call to play was made during a meeting involving commissioner Tim Pernetti, representatives from both schools, Alamodome management and local authorities. At the time of those discussions, Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs had not publicly confirmed the service member's condition.

"In accordance with conference bylaws and with the support of both participating member institutions, the conference made the decision to continue the game," the conference said. "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."

Nellis Public Affairs confirmed to the conference at 10:40 p.m. that the service member had been injured during the demonstration and taken to a hospital, where he later died. Just after midnight, a Nellis spokesperson sent a statement confirming the death to a San Antonio television station.

The conference said it was heartbroken by the death and extended condolences to Patterson's family, friends, teammates and members of the 57th Wing. It also said it is working with its member institutions, the Alamodome and local authorities to review what happened.

Jeff Traylor says he was told only that there had been an incident

UTSA coach Jeff Traylor told reporters after the game that he coached it without knowing what had happened on his own field.

"I didn't know. I didn't have any information," Traylor said. "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 more than that."

He said the effect on the crowd of more than 23,000 was obvious the moment his players walked out. "You could just tell the energy was just gone," Traylor said. "I've never had to deal with anything like that before. It just puts things into perspective."

He called the accident heartbreaking and tragic.

The Air Force has not said what went wrong

A Nellis spokesperson said the fall is under investigation and that more information will be released as it becomes available. No cause has been announced, and the Air Force has not said whether the rope, the anchor point, the equipment or the descent itself is the focus.

Mills, the wing commander, thanked the city in a second part of his statement. "Our relationship with local community partners is incredibly important to our Airmen, especially during difficult times like these," he said. "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 conference said it has been asked to respect the privacy of the airman's family, loved ones and teammates while the review continues.

San Antonio officials and the university respond

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said on social media she was deeply saddened by the death. "We will keep his family in our prayers," Jones said. "May perpetual light shine upon him."

Bexar County commissioner Grant Moody praised the people who formed a wall around Patterson on the field. "I was moved to see students and staff step up to provide privacy and dignity as medical personnel worked to save his life," Moody said. "In an incredibly difficult moment, they showed compassion and respect."

UTSA said after the game that it was deeply saddened by what happened at the start of the night. "Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues," the university said. "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."

University president Taylor Eighmy said a day built around camaraderie, tradition and celebration had been marked by profound sadness, and extended sympathies to Patterson's family, his fellow airmen and his squadron. Lisa Campos, UTSA's vice president for intercollegiate athletics, said moments like these are a reminder that everyone is part of something much greater than a game.

Eighmy also said the impact of the tragedy reaches far past the people who were inside the Alamodome, touching families, friends, fellow service members and others across the community.

Support lines opened on campus

UTSA pointed students who need assistance to its 24/7 university crisis line at 210-458-4140 and to resources through the TimelyCare app.

Academic campus employees were directed to the Employee Assistance Program at 800-451-1834, and UT Health employees to the Employee Assistance Program at 800-356-3549.

The conference said it is working with its member schools to provide support resources to people affected by what they saw.