A U.S. Air Force service member died after plummeting from the rafters during a demonstration at a college football game in Texas. The service member fell approximately 150 feet from the rafters of the Alamodome ahead of UTSA’s game against Navy.

Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs stated the service member, assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, was injured at the stadium and died at a local hospital.

As part of a pregame ceremony for UTSA’s annual Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans event, four officers rappelled down to the field 15 minutes before kickoff. The officer lost control during descent, slid down the line, and crashed onto the turf. Medical personnel immediately attended to the individual, who was transported via stretcher to a hospital as a priority-one patient.

UTSA activated well-being services to support faculty, staff, and students potentially affected by the incident. UTSA President Taylor Eighmy stated Sunday: “Our hearts are heavy following the tragic incident at the Alamodome prior to Saturday’s UT San Antonio football game against the U.S. Naval Academy. What was intended to be a day of camaraderie, tradition and celebration has been marked by profound sadness. I want to extend my deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the service member’s family, his fellow airmen, squadron and all those whose lives have been touched by this heartbreaking tragedy.”

The game proceeded after a 10-minute kickoff delay, with the American Conference confirming the decision to play was made before public confirmation of the service member’s condition. The incident remains under investigation. Nellis Air Force Base has not released the service member’s identity.

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones expressed condolences: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of an Air Force service member following an unfortunate accident at Saturday’s UTSA–Navy football game. We will keep his family in our prayers. May perpetual light shine upon him.”

UTSA also released a statement noting, “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.” The institution added: “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.”

Photos from the scene showed UTSA members surrounding the service member on the field as medics attended him in front of horrified spectators. Witness Adrian Corey stated: “Once the band started playing, there was a guy that fell down and started coming down fast. Everybody was quiet; the band stopped performing — everybody was dead silent.”