The story was updated on Monday, Oct 19 at 8:30 a.m.
Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a 15-year Air Force veteran, died Saturday evening after a rappelling accident during a pregame ceremony at the Alamodome ahead of UTSA's football game against Navy.
Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada confirmed Sunday that the airman died at a local hospital from injuries sustained in the fall. The service member was assigned to Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron, which operates out of Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis and is part of a squadron headquartered at Nellis.
The Air Force identified Patterson on Sunday. A native of Fort Stewart, Georgia, he served as a Tactical Air Control Party instructor and was named the Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year in 2022.
His military honors included multiple Air and Space Commendation Medals, along with Army commendation and achievement medals.
The airman fell while rappelling from the stadium's rafters during UTSA's annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans pregame ceremony. The stadium fell silent as medical personnel attended to the service member on the field before the individual was taken away in a golf cart.
The San Antonio Fire Department confirmed the airman was transported to a hospital as a Priority 1 patient, a designation indicating a life-threatening medical emergency.
The game went ahead following the incident, which delayed the start of play for about 10 minutes.
The Air Force said the incident remains under investigation.
Students who are in need of assistance can contact the university crisis hotline 24/7 at 210-458-4140 and can also access resources through the TimelyCare App. Academic campus employees can get support through the Employee Assistance Program at 800-451-1834. UT Health employees…
— UT San Antonio (@UTSA) October 18, 2026
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The San Antonio Report's Jasper Kenzo Sundeen contributed to this report.
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