Airlink’s daring low‑altitude fly‑past over Cape Town’s DHL stadium has sparked debate, with the airline insisting the stunt was safe and meticulously planned.
The jets roared above the stadium moments before a high‑stakes rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, the aircraft flying within the stadium’s roof height. The stunt, accompanied by flares, was witnessed by thousands of spectators in packed stands.
Critics have called the manoeuvre reckless, warning that two aircraft flying in close formation over an occupied venue carries serious risk. Airlink counters that the operation was fully authorised and supported by South Africa’s aviation authorities and was conducted at approved safety altitude and speed limits.
In an official statement, Airlink highlighted that “the two aircraft were flown by highly experienced crew, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co‑pilot and safety/technical officer.” The airline also emphasised that the fly‑past was performed with approved and rehearsed safety protocols.
A flight‑tracking analysis by Flightradar24 found the lead aircraft passed less than 50 feet (15 metres) above the stadium roof – a height that, according to the airline, is within safe limits.
The stunt has drawn mixed reactions online. While some South Africans have expressed pride in the country’s calibre of pilots, others voice concerns about the safety of the spectators and the possible ramifications for airspace regulation.
Airlink’s low‑altitude fly‑past is not the first aerial spectacle in South Africa. The 1995 Rugby World Cup facilitated a jet over a Johannesburg stadium before the final, a moment captured in the film Invictus and symbolic of the nation’s emerging unity under Nelson Mandela.
