South African aviation authorities are investigating a close flyover 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) has collected flight data recordings and requested additional information from Airlink for evaluation. Once the review is finalized, a comprehensive report with recommendations will be released.
Airlink has canceled plans for another flyover at an upcoming rugby match in Soweto following SACAA’s decision. The previous flyover before the Springboks-All Blacks rugby match on Aug. 29 received a positive reaction from the crowd of around 56,000 spectators. However, video footage of the event circulated online, sparking discussions about safety risks.
Deandra Peters, a 25-year-old pilot and aviation enthusiast attending her first live rugby game, described the electrifying atmosphere inside the stadium during the flyover. Airlink stated that the flyover was meticulously planned and executed with safety as the top priority at every stage. The airline emphasized that each aircraft had three senior captains with a combined total of over 75,000 flight hours.
Acknowledging the mixed reactions generated by the flyover, Airlink’s CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht expressed regret over unintentionally attracting attention and diverting focus from the rugby event. The airline had submitted applications for three flyovers, with the most recent one in Cape Town being the second approved by SACAA for special air events. Additionally, Airlink withdrew its application for a flyover scheduled for Sept. 5 over Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Stadium flybys have been a longstanding tradition in South African rugby, dating back to major matches such as the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg. While last Saturday’s flyby garnered global interest for its low and dramatic nature, some aviation experts later raised concerns about potential safety margins.