Two Airlink passenger jets performed a low-level flyover of Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, passing just feet above the roof and through stadium pyrotechnics ahead of a rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, with flight data showing the lead aircraft dipping to roughly 50 feet above the venue.
A routine pre-match tribute took a dramatic turn in Cape Town on Saturday when two commercial airliners buzzed DHL Stadium moments before kick-off, drawing immediate online fascination and sharp debate over aviation safety.
The low-altitude maneuver occurred during the second Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, which brought the New Zealand All Blacks to South Africa to face the Springboks. As a capacity crowd of 55,000 spectators watched, two Embraer E-Jets operated by South African carrier Airlink executed the pass, with television broadcasts capturing the lead aircraft coming uncomfortably close to the stadium’s upper tier. Airlink was named the official domestic airline for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry in June, and later unveiled the green-liveried ZS-YAE in July after an airframe was repainted over 29 days using roughly 60 liters of paint across three coats.
Flight Data and Proximity to Cape Town Stadium
Footage of two planes stunning a rugby stadium with
Flight tracking analysis revealed the true scale of the clearance. According to data examined by Flightradar24, the lowest recorded ADS-B altitude dropped to 50 feet at standard pressure. When adjusted for Cape Town’s mean sea level, that figure translates to roughly 205 to 210 feet above ground.
Given that the stadium itself stands approximately 164 feet tall, the calculation leaves an estimated 41 to 46 feet—roughly 12.5 to 14 meters—between the underside of the aircraft and the stadium roof. At the most hair-raising moment of the double flyover, footage showed the lead aircraft pitch up as it passed over the final remaining stand, dropping its tail close to the roofline while closely pursued by the second jet.
Footage from the event also showed one of the commercial jets passing directly through pyrotechnics launched from the stadium roof, prompting critics to question whether the fireworks were coordinated with the flight crew.
Aircraft Details and Airline Response
2 Airlink E-Jets Only Just Clear Cape Town Stadium
The two aircraft taking part in the display carried specialized paint schemes celebrating the cross-hemisphere rugby series. An Embraer E190, registered as ZS-YAE, flew in an all-green livery representing the South African team, while an Embraer E195, registered as ZS-YDE, appeared in the black colors of the All Blacks. Flight data shows ZS-YDE departed Cape Town International Airport at approximately 2:10 PM local time, with ZS-YAE following minutes later.
Ahead of the game, Airlink had promoted the appearance on social media, telling fans to get your cameras ready
before the match began. Following the match and subsequent online criticism regarding the height of the pass, Airlink issued a detailed defense of the flight.
“The two aircraft were flown by a highly experienced crew, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer. The flight data recorded by both aircraft confirms that the flights were performed within the SACAA’s approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast.” — Airlink
Regulatory Approval and Safety Oversight
The carrier maintained that the operation followed careful planning and rehearsal involving low-altitude navigation at approximately 150 knots. Airlink emphasized that the maneuver received full support and clearance from the South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services.
While commercial airliner flyovers remain rare compared to military displays, the stadium has hosted similar events before. A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300 completed a flyover at the same venue on June 28, 2025, ahead of a Qatar Airways Cup match, passing without significant public controversy.
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