South African aviation authorities are investigating a low-altitude flyover conducted by two Airlink passenger jets before a rugby match at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium due to safety concerns. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) mentioned that they have collected flight data recordings and requested additional information from Airlink for assessment. A comprehensive report with recommendations is expected upon completion of the review.
Following the scrutiny, Airlink has decided to cancel another planned flyover at an upcoming rugby match in Soweto. The initial flyover before the Springboks-All Blacks rugby match on Aug. 29 received enthusiastic cheers from the 56,000-strong crowd but also triggered a safety debate after videos taken by spectators circulated online.
Deandra Peters, a 25-year-old pilot and aviation enthusiast attending her first live rugby match, expressed how the stadium atmosphere was electrifying during the flyover. She emphasized the unique experience of being amidst passionate Springbok supporters, describing it as a quintessentially South African moment filled with pride and emotion.
Airlink defended the flyover, stating it was meticulously planned and safety was a top priority at all stages. Each aircraft had three senior captains with over 75,000 combined flight hours. The airline had provided flight data from the black boxes to the civil aviation authority earlier this week for evaluation.
The airline’s CEO, de Villiers Engelbrecht, acknowledged the excitement generated by the flyover but also recognized the valid concerns raised afterward. Airlink’s applications for three flyovers were approved, with the recent one in Cape Town being the second, and the first one taking place in Johannesburg on Aug. 22.
Airlink has withdrawn its application for a flyover scheduled for Sept. 5 over Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium due to unfavorable weather conditions. South African rugby has a history of stadium flybys during major matches, with the tradition dating back to the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg. Last Saturday’s flyby, however, garnered international attention due to its unusually low and dramatic nature, prompting some aviation experts to question the margin for error left by the aircraft.