No flyover for Greatest Rivalry clash after Cape Town controversy
This was approved by the regulator, in line with the requirements for Special Air Events.
The South African Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash between the Springboks and All Blacks in Soweto will not feature a flyover prior to the match, according to Airlink. This decision comes after the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) announced it would investigate last weekend’s controversial flypast in Cape Town, which preceded the Boks’ 33-26 victory over New Zealand.
Flyovers have been a recurring aspect of Springboks Tests, especially against the All Blacks, with the inaugural flyover occurring before their 1995 Rugby World Cup encounter. However, the Cape Town flyover last weekend garnered global attention when one of the two aircraft reportedly flew dangerously low over DHL Stadium, only 15 meters above the venue's roof.
The SACAA confirmed it is examining the incident following the flypast, which was one of three applications submitted by Airlink. The first flyover occurred in Johannesburg on August 22, 2026, and the second took place on August 29, 2026, both approved by the regulator in accordance with the regulations for special air events. SACAA initiated compliance verifications post the media discussions surrounding the event, engaging the operator and obtaining flight data recordings and additional requirements.
Airlink assured that the manoeuvre was meticulously planned and executed with safety as the top priority, with each aircraft accompanied by three senior captains, boasting over 75,000 combined flight hours. The airline acknowledged the valid concerns raised but emphasized they did not aim to overshadow the rugby spectacle.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
