CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A South African airline has defended a dramatic low-altitude flypast involving two of its aircraft over a packed stadium in Cape Town, following criticism of the stunt’s safety.
The aircraft flew in close formation over DHL Stadium, where more than 50,000 spectators had gathered ahead of a rugby match between fierce rivals South Africa and New Zealand.
The planes, one green and the other black, passed over the stadium shortly before the start of the match as smoke flares were released, creating a striking spectacle that quickly attracted attention online.
While some viewers described the manoeuvre as reckless and questioned the risks posed by flying two aircraft so close to a crowded stadium, others praised the pilots’ precision and expertise.
Airlink, the airline involved in the flypast, said the stunt had been carefully planned and carried out with the support of aviation authorities.
In a statement, the airline said the aircraft were operated by highly experienced crews, with each plane carrying three senior captains serving as commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer.
Airlink said the flights were conducted within the approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits established for the flypast.
According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, its analysis indicated that the lead aircraft passed less than 50 feet (15 metres) above the top of the stadium.
The proximity of the aircraft to the packed venue has prompted questions about the potential consequences of an accident. However, the stunt has also generated widespread expressions of national pride in South Africa, with some praising the skill of the country’s pilots.
South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie described the display as spectacular, saying South Africa was known for having highly skilled pilots.
Low-altitude aircraft flypasts have become part of the build-up to some major sporting events in South Africa.
One of the country’s most famous flypasts occurred in 1995, when a South African Airways aircraft flew over Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium before the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand.
That match, which South Africa won, became an important moment in the country’s history. Then-President Nelson Mandela famously wore the national rugby team’s jersey during the final, helping transform a sport that had been closely associated with the apartheid era into a powerful symbol of national unity.
The 1995 final was later portrayed in the Hollywood film Invictus.
