A formation flypast by two Airlink passenger aircraft over a stadium in Cape Town has prompted a debate about the available safety margin after footage showed the Embraers passing extremely close to the roof of the packed venue. According to a subsequent analysis of flight data, the lead aircraft was approximately 12.5 to 14 metres above the stadium’s highest structure at one point.

The flypast was performed on Saturday, August 29, shortly before the start of the second match in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between South Africa and New Zealand. More than 55,000 spectators were at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, with the aircraft appearance forming part of the official pre-match programme.

The formation consisted of an Embraer E190 registered ZS-YAE and the larger E195 registered ZS-YDE. The first aircraft was painted green to represent South Africa’s Springboks, while the second carried a black colour scheme associated with New Zealand’s All Blacks. The aircraft approached the stadium in close formation, with footage from several angles showing the lead jet beginning to climb immediately after passing over the stand. This change in pitch brought its tail visually closer to the roof, while another video showed the second aircraft’s wing passing through coloured smoke produced by the stadium pyrotechnics.

The flypast was broadcast live before footage quickly spread across social media. Some observers argued that the aircraft had passed with an insufficient vertical margin, while others noted that the camera angle and change in aircraft pitch could make the separation appear smaller than it actually was.

Flightradar24 subsequently analysed the available ADS-B data. The lowest recorded barometric altitude of the lead aircraft, referenced to standard atmospheric pressure, was 50 feet. After correcting the value for the local QNH of 1019 hPa, the estimated altitude was between 205 and 210 feet, or approximately 62 to 64 metres above mean sea level.

The stadium is located close to sea level, while its roof structure is approximately 164 feet, or 50 metres, high. By comparing those figures, Flightradar24 estimated that the aircraft cleared the roof by only 41 to 46 feet, equivalent to approximately 12.5 to 14 metres.

However, this remains an estimate based on publicly available ADS-B data rather than a radar-altimeter reading or complete information retrieved from the aircraft’s flight data recorder. The result is also affected by the stadium’s exact elevation, the shape of its roof, the aircraft’s position as it crossed the structure and the normal tolerances associated with displayed barometric altitude.

Airlink responded to the criticism the following day, stating that the flypast had been carefully planned and rehearsed. According to the airline, the aircraft flew at approximately 150 knots, or about 278 kilometres per hour. The South African Civil Aviation Authority, SACAA, and air navigation services provider ATNS participated in the preparations and provided the necessary approvals and operational support.

Each aircraft carried three experienced captains serving as commander, co-pilot and safety or technical officer. Airlink said data recorded by both aircraft confirmed that their altitude and speed remained within the limits rehearsed in advance and approved by SACAA. The regulator has not yet published a separate report specifying the authorised minimum altitude, meaning this part of the explanation currently relies on the airline’s statement.

British newspaper The Times reported that the event is expected to undergo an independent review. Another similar flypast has been planned for the next match in Soweto, although it will depend on a new regulatory approval.

Cape Town was not the first stadium overflown by the two aircraft during the tour. Airlink sent the same formation over Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on August 22. The carrier is the official domestic airline of the tour and is transporting both national teams and their accompanying personnel between the host cities.

The green E190 ZS-YAE was unveiled at the end of June. According to Airlink, the aircraft’s new paint scheme took 29 days to complete and required approximately 60 litres of paint applied in one primer and two finishing coats. The black E195 ZS-YDE received a corresponding scheme carrying the same tournament branding.

Low-altitude passenger aircraft flypasts hold a special place in South African rugby tradition. The best-known example occurred before the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, when a South African Airways Boeing 747-200 registered ZS-SAN and named Lebombo flew low over Ellis Park. The message “Good Luck Bokke” had been painted on the underside of its wings. A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER also flew over the Cape Town stadium in June 2025, although that event did not generate a comparable debate over the aircraft’s altitude.

Airlink currently operates a fleet of more than 70 aircraft, consisting exclusively of different models produced by Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. The airline carries more than four million passengers on approximately 75,000 flights annually, serving more than 47 destinations in 15 African countries as well as the island of St Helena.