Two regional airline jets created a scene of alarm after performing an ultra-low flyover above Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, narrowly missing its roof as crowds watched. The Embraer E-Jets, operated by South African regional airline Airlink, were painted in a special green livery for the occasion and flew over the 55,000-capacity stadium prior to the international rugby match between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks.
Video footage captured from atop the stadium showed the aircraft appearing to come within mere feet of the structure. Social media users expressed shock, with one writing, “It looks like the airplanes almost hit the top of Cape Town stadium,” while another commented, “That could’ve been catastrophic.” Some observers noted that the lead aircraft seemed particularly low, with one suggesting that stadium pyrotechnics might not have been part of the flight plan.
While some camera angles suggested the first jet was skimming the stadium's roof, other perspectives indicated a greater distance. Flight tracking data reportedly placed the aircraft at a barometric altitude of approximately 164 feet as they passed over the venue. However, aviation sources suggest that aircraft flying near large structures can appear closer than they actually are, especially when viewed from a low camera angle, and that a change in pitch can also enhance the dramatic effect.
Available flight information does not indicate that the jets were at risk of colliding with the stadium. Low-altitude flyovers have been a tradition in South African sporting events, dating back to the 1995 Rugby World Cup final when a South African Airways Boeing 747 performed a similar flyover at Ellis Park stadium.
Airlink has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.