A review is underway following a low flyby of two Airlink passenger jets before a rugby match at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, which raised safety concerns. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) announced on Wednesday that they are analyzing flight data and have requested additional information from Airlink as part of their evaluation process. A comprehensive report containing recommendations will be released once the assessment is finalized.
Airlink has decided to cancel a planned flyover at an upcoming rugby match in Soweto, according to SACAA, the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing aviation safety and security. The initial flyover before the Springboks-All Blacks rugby game on Aug. 29 elicited enthusiastic cheers from a crowd of approximately 56,000 spectators but also sparked a safety debate after video footage circulated online from onlookers inside and around the stadium.
In response, Airlink stated that the flyover was meticulously planned and rehearsed, emphasizing that safety was the top priority throughout the process. Each aircraft was manned by three senior captains with a combined flight experience exceeding 75,000 hours. Earlier this week, the airline provided flight data from the planes’ black boxes to the civil aviation authority for scrutiny.
Acknowledging the public reaction, Airlink’s CEO, de Villiers Engelbrecht, remarked on the unintended attention garnered by the event and addressed the “valid questions and concerns” that arose. The airline had applied for three flyovers, with the recent one in Cape Town being the second, following a previous flyover in Johannesburg on Aug. 22, both of which were approved for special air events compliance.
Airlink has withdrawn its application for a scheduled flyover on Sept. 5 over Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium due to unfavorable weather conditions for a safe formation flyby. This decision was confirmed by SACAA. South African rugby has a history of stadium flyovers during significant matches, tracing back to the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg when a Boeing 747 flew over Ellis Park before the Springboks’ match against the All Blacks.
The recent flyby, characterized by its low altitude and dramatic nature, captured global attention, prompting some aviation experts to question whether the aircraft had operated with minimal error margins.