Military Demonstration Death
Emergency responders react to an accident before UTSA’s annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans football game at the Alamodome, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.
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The service member who died after a fall while rappelling in a stadium before a college football game in Texas has been identified as U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson. Patterson was a Tactical Air Control Party instructor assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron. The airman from Fort Stewart, Georgia, fell Saturday at the Alamodome before Navy's game against the University of Texas at San Antonio. The fall happened as Patterson was rappelling down from the stadium rafters during a pregame salute to the armed forces and veterans. The game was delayed while Patterson received emergency care. He died later at a hospital.
