Two Embraer passenger jets operated by Airlink flew just 41 to 46 feet above the roof of Cape Town’s DHL Stadium on Saturday, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24, sparking a global debate over aviation safety. The low-altitude airlink flyby cape town stadium stunt drew cheers from an estimated crowd of 56,000 before a rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, but has since drawn sharp questions from aviation experts about the precedent it sets.
The flyby happened on Saturday before a rugby game between South Africa and New Zealand in Cape Town. Flightradar24 estimated that the lead jet passed just 41 to 46 feet (12 to 14 meters) above the stadium roof, with the crowd and the top-ranked rugby teams in the world below.
The second jet, flying right behind, passed through a cloud of pink dust that shot up from the stadium roof as part of the pregame show. A video posted on X by Airlink showed the first jet pulling up slightly as it passed precariously close to the outer edge of the curved roof.
Why the Airlink flyby over Cape Town stadium is being questioned
South African rugby has a long tradition of stadium flybys at big matches, dating back to 1995, when a Boeing 747 flew over another stadium in Johannesburg before the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand, who are fierce rivals. But Saturday’s flyby was unusually low and dramatic, generating global attention after it was broadcast as part of the pregame show and prompting a flood of spectator videos online.
Airlink, a sponsor of the ongoing test series between the two teams, said the flyby was conducted according to safety regulations. The airline said it was carefully planned and rehearsed, with the aircraft traveling at around 150 knots (278 kph or 172 mph) when they went over the stadium. Each jet carried three senior captains, operating as commander, co-pilot and safety officer. The aircraft were not carrying passengers.
Aviation experts raise concerns
Some aviation experts questioned whether the margin for error was too narrow.
“Basically, that lead aircraft … was kind of like dodging over the roof and climbing over the one side and dipping below and then climbing over the other side. That was a little bit uncomfortable,” Chris Martinus, president of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association South Africa, told The Associated Press on Monday.
He said if “something adverse happens, you just don’t have options at that kind of altitude.”
Keith Tonkin, an Australian aviation consultant and former military and commercial pilot, said Monday that the Embraer passenger jets, which are small to medium jets designed for regional flights, were not designed or intended for low-level operations of that kind and warned against the precedent.
“The bigger picture is that a benchmark has been established and others may expect to do something similar, and that’s not going to end well,” Tonkin said.
He added that turbulence or a bird strike at such a low altitude could leave pilots with too little room to maneuver without hitting the stadium.
Airlink defends the flyby
“Airlink notes the concerns expressed in various social media and online forums regarding yesterday’s formation flyby over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium,” Airlink said on Sunday. “The flight demanded careful planning and rehearsal, as it required navigating at low altitude, at around 150 knots. The South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services provided valuable guidance, approval and support to ensure a safe flyby.”
Airlink said flight data recorded by both aircraft confirmed the flights were performed within civil aviation safety limits for speed and altitude. In a later statement, it said it had provided the data from the airplanes’ black boxes to the civil aviation authority for review. The aviation authority did not immediately comment, but said it planned to issue a statement later.
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