The excitement of a packed stadium quickly turned into a moment of panic.

What was meant to be a routine pregame spectacle at the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday took a frightening turn when a parachutist narrowly escaped a serious accident. Fans at Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas watched in shock as the jump, which was part of a planned aerial display, went wrong mid-air.

The kickoff between the Rice Owls and the Texas State Bobcats was set to begin after the display by six parachutists from the All Veterans Group. They attempted to land on the field—a stunt that had been successfully performed in previous years, including the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl.

It was expected to go smoothly, and for a moment it did—until things suddenly took a turn. Four parachutists landed safely without any issues, but for the other two, things didn’t go quite as planned.

One parachutist was forced to veer away from the stadium completely, while another appeared to get tangled in wiring that supports the netting behind the goalpost. He remained suspended in the air for a tense few seconds, raising the heartbeats of everyone watching.

Then came the fall. He eventually dropped down and landed between the end zone and the stands safely. It could have ended far worse than it did, but fortunately, it didn’t.

According to Drew Harris, a spokesman for the bowl game, the situation was quickly brought under control. “He got up, grabbed his parachute and walked off,” Harris told The Athletic, reassuring fans about his safety.

Despite the scare, the game continued as planned, with no delay to kickoff. But for many in attendance, the incident left a mark—still, it set the tone for an unforgettable start.