Airlink’s pre-match flypast above DHL Stadium in Cape Town drew scrutiny after two Embraer E-Jets appeared to skim just metres above the venue before the Springboks-All Blacks match. Flight-tracking data placed the aircraft’s lowest recorded altitude at about 50 ft above standard pressure, equivalent to roughly 205 to 210 ft above mean sea level, while Airlink maintained the manoeuvre was approved, rehearsed and flown within the required safety limits.
The display was staged as part of the rugby spectacle and quickly spread online, where videos made the jets look alarmingly close to the packed stadium. That prompted debate over public-event aviation risk and clearance procedures, even as the footage was later judged against tracking data and camera perspective. Airlink’s branded aircraft were used for the flypast, and the manoeuvre involved experienced crews under coordination with the South African Civil Aviation Authority and air traffic services.
The episode highlights how stadium flyovers are assessed on more than visual impression alone. For organisers and operators, the key variables are regulatory approval, rehearsal, speed and altitude restrictions, and coordination with air traffic control, all of which were central to the Cape Town display.