San Antonio Rappelling Accident: US Airman Dies Before Football Game

A member of the U.S. Air Force has died after a fall during a rappelling demonstration before a college football game in San Antonio, Texas. On Saturday, Oct. 17, the man slipped while rappelling from the ceiling of the Alamodome and hit the field.

A spokesperson for Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada confirmed his death to the military outlet Task & Purpose. The airman's name was not initially released. The Air Force is investigating the incident, and the cause is still unclear.

Lost control halfway down

Shortly before 7 p.m. local time, about a quarter of an hour before kickoff of the game between the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Navy, four service members were set to rappel from the roughly 45- to 52-meter-high ceiling. One of them lost control about halfway down, slid uncontrollably down the rope and hit the ground near midfield.

Medical personnel treated the motionless man on the field for about ten minutes. The San Antonio Fire Department took him to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Spectators in the stadium said the service member suddenly came down very fast. Afterward, they said, it fell silent and things did not look good. The marching band stopped playing, and many in the crowd prayed.

Unit trains air support personnel

The four service members belonged to Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron. The unit, stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, trains Tactical Air Control Party members, who work with ground forces to coordinate air strikes. The squadron itself is headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base.

Rappelling from heights of more than 30 meters, including from helicopters, is part of the unit's regular training. The demonstration was part of the annual "Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans" game, at which the university honors the armed forces and veterans.

Game kicks off late

The players waited in the locker room while the injured man received treatment. The game began about ten minutes late, at 7:10 p.m. local time, and UTSA won 38-34.

The university said during the game that it was deeply saddened. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the service member, his family and his fellow service members," it said. Support services would be made available to members of the university community. The American Conference expressed similar sorrow.

On social media, some users asked whether such risky demonstrations are appropriate at sporting events.