South African regional carrier Airlink has defended a highly dramatic aerial display in which two of its planes swept over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium shortly before a rugby clash between South Africa and New Zealand.
The aircraft thundered across the venue as smoke flares were released, creating a spectacular scene ahead of the much-anticipated encounter between the two traditional rivals.
While some observers described the stunt as unnecessarily dangerous, others commended the pilots for executing the manoeuvre with remarkable accuracy.
Airlink said the flypast had been thoroughly prepared and carried out in consultation with relevant aviation regulators.
The airline promoted the display online with the words, “Planning. Precision. Performance”, alongside video footage of the aircraft.
In a statement published on a government news platform, Airlink said the planes were operated by highly experienced personnel.
According to the carrier, each aircraft had three senior captains serving as commander, co-pilot and safety and technical officer.
It said the operation followed authorised and repeatedly practised limits governing the aircraft’s altitude and speed during the flypast.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 estimated that the aircraft leading the formation travelled less than 50 feet, or about 15 metres, above the stadium’s highest point.
The stunt has sparked debate over the dangers associated with flying two aircraft at such a low height above a crowded sporting venue.
However, the spectacle has also generated widespread admiration in South Africa, with many praising the skill of the country’s aviation crews.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie expressed his excitement on X, saying South Africa was known for having some of the finest pilots in the world and describing the display as spectacular.
Low-level aircraft passes have previously formed part of the pre-match entertainment at major sporting events in South Africa.
One of the most memorable examples occurred before the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg, when a South African Airways aircraft passed over the stadium ahead of the decisive encounter between the Springboks and the All Blacks.
That match, later portrayed in the film Invictus, carried enormous historical significance.
Then-President Nelson Mandela wore the national rugby jersey during the final, helping transform a sport once strongly associated with apartheid-era white rule into a powerful symbol of national reconciliation.
South Africa went on to defeat New Zealand in the final, producing one of the country’s most enduring sporting moments.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong