Parachutist Falls 35ft into Crowd at Armed Forces Bowl Pregame Show (Video)

A patriotic pregame spectacle at the Armed Forces Bowl turned terrifying Friday when a veteran parachutist became tangled in the goalpost net and plunged into the crowd in Fort Worth, Texas.

The shocking incident happened at Amon G. Carter Stadium — home to TCU football — just minutes before kickoff between Rice and Texas State. Fans who had gathered to honor military heroes suddenly found themselves watching in horror as the stunt went wrong.

Witnesses say several members of the All Veteran Group, a team of retired military parachutists known for their precision jumps, began descending from the sky carrying American flags to roaring applause. But one parachutist veered off course.

“He hit the cable near the goal net — and then everything went silent,” said Mark Dwyer, a fan seated behind the end zone. “You could hear the snap of the line. Then he just dropped straight down. Everyone gasped.”

Video shared online shows the parachutist dangling roughly 35 feet in the air, tangled near the top of the uprights. Moments later, his parachute canopy gave way, sending him tumbling into the seating gap between the stands and the field.

Fans rushed to his side as stunned spectators called for help.

“He hit hard but somehow got up,” said Dwyer. “The guy stood and waved like a soldier. People started clapping through their tears.”

Drew Harris, media director for the Armed Forces Bowl, confirmed the parachutist was part of the All Veteran Group and that, remarkably, he was able to walk away without serious injury. “It could have been much worse,” Harris told reporters. “He’s a true professional, and we’re grateful he’s okay — as are all the fans in that section.”

No spectators were injured, officials said.

The All Veteran Group — founded in 2011 — has performed hundreds of successful demonstrations at major sporting events across the country, including NFL and college games. Friday’s jump, however, was marred by strong gusts that reportedly pushed several skydivers off target. One jumper landed hard on the turf, and another appeared to miss the stadium entirely.

Despite the chaos, organizers decided to continue the pregame festivities once safety crews cleared the area. A roaring F-35 flyover moments later drew cheers that helped calm the shaken crowd.

The game itself proceeded as scheduled — though eerily, it later paused again when a Rice player suffered a serious on-field injury.

“This was supposed to be a tribute to our heroes,” said longtime fan Angela Romero. “Instead, it turned into one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen at a football game.”

The identity of the parachutist has not yet been released.