Airlink withdraws third Test flyover request as South African aviation authority investigates Cape Town stunt

Airlink has withdrawn its request to stage a flyover at the third Test between South Africa and New Zealand after its low-altitude formation pass over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium last weekend triggered a formal investigation by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).

The stunt, performed ahead of the second Test kick-off, saw two Embraer 190 jets skim the top of the packed stadium at a minimum altitude of approximately 46 feet above the roof, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. The manoeuvre — billed as part of the “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” promotion — drew widespread shock and quickly became a global news story, with aviation experts and spectators questioning how close the aircraft came to the structure below.

The SACAA confirmed it has launched a compliance review. “We are currently conducting a compliance verification just to satisfy ourselves that all safety protocols were adhered to by the crew,” said SACAA executive Phindiwe Gwebu.

Airlink, for its part, insists the flyover was conducted legally and within pre-approved parameters. The airline said it would hand over black box data to regulators and released a statement defending the operation: “The flight demanded careful planning and rehearsal, as it required navigating at low altitude, at around 150 knots. The South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services provided valuable guidance, approval and support to ensure a safe flyby.”

The airline added that both aircraft were crewed by three senior captains each — serving as commander, co-pilot, and safety/technical officer — and that flight data from both planes confirmed the pass was performed within the SACAA’s approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits.

Despite the regulatory scrutiny, the episode has delivered an extraordinary marketing windfall for Airlink. Images and video of the low pass have been viewed hundreds of millions of times worldwide, giving the regional carrier a level of global visibility that no conventional advertising campaign could have matched.

Nevertheless, with the investigation ongoing, Airlink has opted not to repeat the stunt for the series decider, withdrawing its flyover application ahead of the third Test.