Parachute Stunt Goes Awry at Armed Forces Bowl

During the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday, a typical pregame parachute stunt didn’t quite go as planned. Right before the Texas State and Rice game kicked off, one of the paratroopers appeared to get tangled temporarily in the netting and support wires near the end zone. For a brief moment, he was airborne before landing between the grass of the end zone and the nearby stadium seats.

Fortunately, the paratrooper managed to escape from the situation on his own. Organizers of the bowl later confirmed that he suffered no serious injuries.

No injuries were reported among the fans, either.

Members of the All-Veteran Group parachute team were in the process of landing when the incident occurred. Out of six parachutists, four landed safely, while one had to adjust his descent, and another was forced toward the net.

“He got up, grabbed his parachute, and walked away,” said Drew Harris, a spokesperson for the Armed Forces Bowl, in comments to The Athletic.

According to the national weather bureau, winds at Amon G. Carter Stadium were around 12 miles per hour when the mishap happened. It’s speculated that strong winds could have contributed to the paratrooper getting caught in the net.

The All-Veteran Group, established in 2011, previously performed at the same bowl four years ago. They are known for their stunts during pregame shows, including those at Bank of America Stadium for the Carolina Panthers.

Despite the parachuting incident, everything else—like the scheduled F-35 flyover—went off without a hitch. The incident didn’t hold up the game, which saw Texas State come out on top against Rice, winning 41-10.