Two Airlink Embraer E-Jets flew over South Africa's 55,000-seat DHL Stadium on Saturday afternoon, a pre-game flyover that sparked safety concerns after video appeared to show the aircraft skimming the stadium roof. The jets flew at an altitude of approximately 41 to 46 feet above the stadium, which stands about 164 feet tall.
The planes' proximity to the stadium was captured from multiple angles, with some clips showing the back of the jets appearing to come very close to the structure. The flyover occurred ahead of a rugby match between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks. Airlink, an official partner of the series, promoted the event with the tagline "Planning. Precision. Performance."
Online reactions to the footage were mixed, with some viewers expressing alarm. One commenter called the flyovers "absolutely unnecessary and dangerous," while another noted that a jet's wing seemed to nearly strike the stadium in one video. Other users voiced concerns that "too many people's lives were put at risk."
However, the source notes that "there was never any indication that a dangerous incident could have happened" and that some defended the flyover as "beautiful" or "spectacular."
Low-altitude flyovers have been a customary part of significant rugby games in South Africa since the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final. The two jets involved in the Saturday flyover were registered as ZS-YAE and ZS-YDE and were painted in special green and black colors for the occasion. Airlink and DHL Stadium have been contacted for comment.