Two Airlink Embraer E-Jets flew at an extremely low altitude over Cape Town's DHL Stadium on Saturday afternoon, passing within approximately 41 to 46 feet of the venue's roof. The flyover occurred just before a rugby match between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks.
Video recordings captured the two regional jets navigating through pyrotechnics being launched from the stadium's roof, which seats 55,000 spectators. Multiple angles show the planes appearing to come very close to the stadium's structure. The jets, registered as ZS-YAE and ZS-YDE, were painted in special green and black colors for the event.
Airlink, an official partner of the rugby series, described the event as "spectacular scenes" in a post on X. However, the low-altitude maneuver drew sharp reactions from online viewers, with many expressing concern over safety. Comments included descriptions like "absolutely unnecessary and dangerous," "That was close," and "could've been a MAJOR disaster."
Some commenters questioned the safety of the stunt, with one stating, "I mean, cool but how is that safe?" Others felt that "too many people's lives were put at risk." Despite these concerns, there was no indication of any danger during the flyover.
Low-altitude flyovers have been a traditional part of significant rugby matches in South Africa since the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final. While some viewers criticized the recent flyover, others lauded it as "beautiful" and "spectacular."