A service member fell during a pregame aerial demonstration in San Antonio on Saturday night and later died at a hospital, according to military officials and footage verified by NBC News.
Video recorded in the stands showed the soldier rappelling down a rope from the stadium rafters before falling onto the pitch. Spectators watched at the Coliseum in downtown San Antonio as the University of Texas at San Antonio defeated the Naval Academy after a delayed kickoff.
The service member, who was not identified, was taken to a local hospital where he died, a Nellis Air Force Base spokesman said in a statement.
The incident is under investigation. The statement said the soldier was assigned to Detachment 2, 6th Combat Training Squadron of the U.S. Air Force.
As the soldier fell to the 50-yard line, a man rushed toward the soldier from the sideline. The soldier was driven off the course in a golf cart as fans looked on in horror.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has several events planned during the game to honor active military personnel and veterans.
“We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred at the start of tonight’s football game,” the University of Texas at San Antonio said in a statement Saturday night. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the affected soldier, his family and his military colleagues.”
The city of San Antonio, which owns the Alamodome, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.