A dramatic flyby by two Airlink passenger jets over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium has sparked widespread debate over aviation safety after the aircraft appeared to skim the roof shortly before the Springboks faced the All Blacks on Saturday. The two Embraer aircraft, a green E190 (ZS-YAE) and a black E195 (ZS-YDE), carrying special colors representing the two rugby teams flew over the stadium ahead of the second Test of the “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” series. Flight-tracking data analysed by Flightradar24 indicated that the lead aircraft passed approximately 41 to 46 feet (12.5 to 14 metres) above the stadium roof. The stadium itself is about 164 feet high.
The footage quickly went viral, with some spectators and aviation professionals questioning whether the manoeuvre left an adequate safety margin over a stadium filled with tens of thousands of people. Airlink, however, defended the operation, saying the flyby was carefully planned, rehearsed and approved with guidance from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and Air Traffic Navigation Services. The airline said the aircraft operated at about 150 knots, with each jet carrying three senior crew members, a commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer. Airlink added that flight data confirmed the aircraft remained within the altitude and speed limits approved for the operation.
The flyby was part of Airlink’s role as the official domestic airline for the 2026 “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” tour, which includes transporting the Springboks and All Blacks between matches in South Africa. The airline had staged a similar formation flyby over Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 22. The spectacle came before South Africa defeated New Zealand 33–26, levelling the three-Test series at 1–1. While the flyby thrilled many rugby fans, the controversy has placed renewed attention on the safety standards governing low-altitude aircraft displays over large public gatherings.
