Metres from disaster? Flyover at Cape Town Stadium sparks safety debate
Two Airlink jets in Springbok and All Blacks livery roared metres above Cape Town Stadium in a daring flyover on Saturday. The spectacle thrilled fans but sparked a global safety debate, with critics warning of risk, while South Africans defended the pilots with humour.
On Saturday, before South Africa's second Test against New Zealand in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, a daring double jet flyover occurred above Cape Town Stadium. Two Airlink Embraer 190 passenger jets, each adorned with South Africa and New Zealand livery, performed a low flyover, as low as 12 meters above the stadium's roof. This unusual maneuver quickly generated international headlines and criticism, with aviation experts questioning the altitude's safety and South African authorities defending the exercise.
Airlink, the airline responsible for the flyover, assured that the flight complied with all safety regulations and was meticulously planned and rehearsed. The Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services provided guidance and approval for the low-altitude maneuver. Despite the controversy, many South Africans defended the airline, praising their pilots' skill and experience, and mocking the international criticism.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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