US airman killed in rappelling accident at Texas stadium

A United States Air Force serviceman was killed on Saturday in a rappelling accident at the Alamodome stadium in San Antonio, Texas, during a pre-game ceremony before a college football match between the University of Texas at San Antonio and the US Naval Academy.

The airman, a member of Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron, was descending by rope from the stadium roof alongside three other servicemen as part of the annual "Salute to Service and Veterans" game ceremony. The unit, based primarily at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada but operating also from Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, trains Tactical Air Control Party personnel. Air Force specialists who embed with ground units to direct air strikes.

According to eyewitnesses, the airman lost control midway through the descent from an estimated height of 45 to 52 metres. He slid down the rope at uncontrolled speed and crashed onto the turf near the centre of the field in front of thousands of spectators who had arrived at the stadium.

Medical teams rushed to the injured serviceman and treated him on the field for approximately ten minutes. He was then placed on a stretcher and evacuated through the tunnel. The San Antonio Fire Department reported that he was transported to hospital in Priority 1 condition, a classification indicating life-threatening injury.

A spokesman for Nellis Air Force Base later confirmed to the Task & Purpose website that the airman died from his injuries that night. The Air Force announced that the incident is under investigation, and further details will be released in due course. The deceased's identity has not yet been released for publication.

UTSA issued a statement expressing deep sorrow: "We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of the game. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured serviceman, his family and his military colleagues." The university added that it is providing mental health support services for students, faculty and staff who may be emotionally affected by the incident.

The game itself was delayed by approximately ten minutes following the accident, but proceeded as scheduled. UTSA defeated Navy 38–34.

Videos of the incident, filmed by spectators, spread rapidly on social media and showed the moment the airman lost control and landed on the field.

The Air Force investigation continues, and further details about the circumstances of the accident, whether it involved equipment failure, human error or another factor, have not yet been released.