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Airlink has responded to criticism after two jets flew less than 15 metres above a packed rugby stadium in Cape Town during a match between South Africa and New Zealand, with flight-tracking data confirming the extremely low altitude of the manoeuvre.
An airline has defended a daring fly-past over an international rugby match in Cape Town that sparked debate over aviation safety procedures. The incident, which happened above the heads of 56,000 rugby fans, attracted both widespread criticism and admiration online.
Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed one of the two jets passed less than 15 metres above the top of the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, where South Africa's national rugby team played against New Zealand's All Blacks. The lead aircraft, liveried in All Blacks colours, roared above the stadium roof at about 150 knots or 275km/h, before pitching up as it cleared the arena.
It was followed closely by a second plane, in Springbok colours, which flew through the coloured smoke of pyrotechnics from the stadium roof. Airlink, an airline backed by Qatar Airways and which operates about 70 Embraer SA passenger jets, said the manoeuvres on Saturday were conducted by a crew of senior captains in each aircraft, and required careful planning and rehearsal.
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 and technical officer. The flights were performed within the local aviation authority's approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits, it said in a statement on Sunday. Airlink had promoted the fly-past on social media in advance, advising spectators to get their cameras ready in advance of the kick-off.
South Africa has a history of buzzing sports stadiums with passenger jets, starting at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg, attended by then-president Nelson Mandela. The tradition has continued over the years at major sporting events, with low-level fly-pasts becoming a celebrated part of the pre-match spectacle.
However, the recent incident has renewed questions about whether such displays compromise safety standards, especially when conducted over densely packed venues. Aviation experts and fans alike have weighed in online, with some praising the precision and skill of the pilots while others questioned whether the margin between the aircraft and the stadium structure was too narrow.
The debate continues as authorities review the circumstances surrounding the fly-past and consider whether additional regulations should govern similar aerial displays at future sporting events in the country
Rugby Cape Town Airlink Fly-Past Aviation Safety
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