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Air Force Service Member Dies in Rappelling Accident Before UTSA-Navy Game
Confirmed
In Short: The service member's identity and the specific details of the accident, including the malfunction of the equipment, have not been fully disclosed by the military or stadium officials.
The incident occurred during a pregame ceremony before the UTSA-Navy football game at the Alamodome in San Antonio. A service member assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, fell while rappelling from the ceiling of the stadium.
According to witnesses and KENS photographers, the service member landed near the middle of the field after falling from approximately 170 feet.
The rappelling demonstration was part of UTSA's annual Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans game, where four officers were set to rappel down to the field 15 minutes before kickoff.
UTSA staff formed a semicircle around the injured service member for about 10 minutes as medical personnel attended to the man, who was in combat fatigues.
The game was delayed by 10 minutes, and the stadium fell silent as medical personnel attended to the service member on the field before he was taken away in a golf cart.
The UTSA football team acknowledged the somber environment during the game, with players noting the change in energy and expressing their thoughts for the fallen service member and his family.
"We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s game," UTSA said in a statement.
"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues," a spokesperson for Nellis Air Force Base added.
The service member's identity and the specific details of the accident, including the malfunction of the equipment, have not been fully disclosed by the military or stadium officials.
As part of their training, they learn how to "fast rope" from structures 15 to 30 feet high, and they practice rappelling from helicopters hovering 100 feet or more above the ground.
What this adds
The service member was part of a rappelling team that was demonstrating their skills as part of the pregame ceremony.
The Alamodome fell silent as the incident occurred, and the game continued after a brief delay.
The military service member's family has not been publicly identified, and the full extent of the injuries and the malfunction of the equipment have not been detailed.
Background
The Cleveland Guardians turned the tide in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, defeating the Chicago White Sox 9-3 to force a decisive Game 4.
What's confirmed
- "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."
- Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs issued a statement saying that the service member — assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2 — was injured at the stadium and died at a local hospital.
- A member of the Air Force has died from his injuries after he fell while attempting to rappel from the rafters of the Alamodome during a pregame demonstration before UTSA's football game against Navy on Saturday, the Air Force said.
- As part of a pregame ceremony for UTSA's annual Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans game, four officers were set to rappel down to the field 15 minutes before kickoff.
- The service member was rappelling down to the field Saturday at the Alamodome.
- Military.com reached out to Nellis Air Force Base, UTSA, the Alamodome, and the San Antonio Fire Department for additional remarks on how the accident occurred, what injuries were sustained, the identity of the service member, and whether next of kin had been notified.
- “We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s game,” UTSA said in a statement.
- “A spokesperson for Nellis Air Force Base confirmed that a service member assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2 died from injuries sustained in a fall ahead of the University of Texas San Antonio and Naval Academy game at the Alamodome in San Antonio,” the report read.
What's still developing
- "I know we said a prayer postgame, but they'll continue being our thoughts and prayers, and really thinking about them." UTSA beat Navy, 38-34, in front of a crowd of 23,297.
- "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 further than that," Traylor said.
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- Traylor said his players "could just tell the energy was gone" after coming back onto the field for the opening kickoff in what was a somber environment.
- "It's hard. I just think as players too, my thoughts go immediately with the family," McCown said.
Sources
- CBS Newslink
- CBS Sportslink
- ESPN La Crosse 105.5link
- Espnlink
- Military.comlink
- NBC Sportslink
- NFL Draft Diamondslink
- On3link
- San Antonio Express-Newslink
- Task & Purposelink
- Texas Public Radio | TPRlink
- The Big Leadlink
- WOAIlink
- WSOC TVlink
- WarpBeat — background on Guardians Force Game 4 with 9-3 Win Over White Sox link
- KSAT 12 — video link