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Air Force names Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson as the instructor killed in the Alamodome rappel fall
Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson was a 15-year Air Force veteran and award-winning instructor who died after a pregame fast-rope fall at the UTSA-Navy game.
The airman who died after falling during a pregame show at the Alamodome in San Antonio has been identified as Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson. He had spent 15 years in uniform.
Who he was
Nellis Air Force Base released his name in a statement. Patterson trained Tactical Air Control Party airmen as an instructor with Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio.
He was from Fort Stewart in Georgia. In 2022 he was honored as the top enlisted special warfare instructor in the entire Air Force. He earned a number of military commendations during his career.
What happened Saturday
Patterson was among four airmen sliding down ropes into the stadium ahead of UTSA's game with Navy. Footage from the stands seemed to show him lose control partway down. He dropped about 170 feet from high in the dome while a packed crowd looked on.
Medical crews reached him within moments. Patterson was taken to a hospital with grave injuries and did not survive.
A wing in mourning
Brig. Gen. Scott C. Mills leads the 57th Wing. He said the loss has hit everyone in the wing hard. Mills said the focus now is on caring for Patterson's family and friends along with the airmen who served beside him.
Investigators are still working to learn what caused the fall.
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