ع
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed that one of the Airlink aircraft passed between 41 and 46 feet above the roof of the 164-foot-tall DHL Stadium in Cape Town during the pre-match display on August 29, 2026. The two Embraer jets, an E190 painted green in tribute to the Springboks and an E195 in black honouring the All Blacks, conducted the formation flypast at approximately 150 knots after holding over Robben Island, according to analysis published by AeroTime and The South African. The carrier, which serves as the official airline partner for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour and transported the teams between venues, had liveried the aircraft with the series logo.
Airlink said in a statement that the flypast was a planned and rehearsed operation conducted with guidance, approval and support from the South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services. “The flight demanded careful planning and rehearsal, as it required navigating at low altitude, at around 150 knots,” the airline stated. It added that each aircraft was operated by highly experienced crews, with three senior captains on board serving as commander, co-pilot and safety or technical officer, and that downloaded flight data confirmed the passes remained within the approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits.
The display took place in front of more than 56,000 spectators shortly before the Springboks defeated New Zealand 33-26, levelling the series at 1-1, Briefly.co.za reported. Footage captured from within the stadium and from a photographer standing on the roof showed the jets appearing remarkably close to the structure, with one seeming to pass near or through pyrotechnic effects launched from the venue, according to accounts in IOL and Aviacionline. Airlink later noted concerns expressed on social media and online forums but maintained that the manoeuvre posed no safety risk.
The event continued a longstanding South African rugby tradition that began at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, when a South African Airways Boeing 747 piloted by Laurie Kay flew low over Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg with “Good Luck Bokke” painted on its underside before the Springboks faced the All Blacks, multiple outlets including The Mirror and Briefly.co.za recounted. Airlink had staged a comparable flypast ahead of the first Test in the current series on August 22. That heritage has made such low-level passes a feature of major matches, though they require special regulatory clearance.
Standard South African Civil Aviation regulations mandate a minimum altitude of 900 metres over open-air assemblies such as stadiums, The South African reported, meaning the August 29 operation needed explicit authorisation following months of preparation. The publication added that the South African Civil Aviation Authority has begun reviewing the flight data from the flypast. Airlink has declined to comment further while that process continues, it said.
Public and expert reaction split between admiration for the displayed skill and criticism that the clearance appeared too narrow, news.com.au reported. Some social media users called the pass magnificent and a source of national pride, while others labelled it reckless and suggested it left little safety margin, according to commentary compiled by IOL. The airline’s statement emphasised that the combination of formation flying, low altitude and large crowd demanded the highest levels of professionalism from its pilots and operations team.
