Airlink stadium flyover reviewed after safety debate

South Africa’s aviation regulator is reviewing a low Airlink flyover above Cape Town stadium that sparked an international safety debate, while the airline has cancelled its next planned flypast because of poor weather.

Images of two custom-liveried Airlink passenger jets flying over the stadium before Saturday’s rugby union Test between South Africa’s Springboks and New Zealand’s All Blacks went viral. Critics said the display had been too risky.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority said Airlink had completed the required procedures before the flyover, including a practice flight in a simulator. It said it had nevertheless begun compliance checks after the public debate, including engagement with Airlink and requests for flight data recordings and additional information.

Flightradar24 said its analysis showed the lead aircraft was at one point about 12.5 to 14 metres above the stadium’s highest structure. About 58,000 people were present for the match.

Airlink rejected claims that it had acted recklessly. The airline said safety was the first consideration throughout the process and that the aircraft were flown by crews made up of three senior captains.

Airlink said a planned repeat before the September 5 Test in Johannesburg had been cancelled because “the forecast weather points to unfavourable conditions for a safe formation flyby.” It said it had offered to provide the regulator with its own flight data, which it described as more precise than public flight-tracking mobile apps.

The Cape Town flypast was the second of three planned displays linked to the Rugby Championship, after an earlier flyover before the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park on August 22.