The internet lost its collective mind on Saturday, but South Africa wasn’t having any of it.
When two SA Airlink Embraer jets roared above Cape Town Stadium’s roof before the Springboks’ second Test against the All Blacks, international critics howled about safety violations and reckless endangerment.
Airlink has entered the fray with flight data confirming the spectacular formation flyby was entirely within prescribed safety limits set by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
The receipts don’t lie
Airlink’s statement pulled no punches, addressing the social media meltdown head-on whilst providing the cold, hard facts that silence keyboard aviation experts.
“The two aircraft were flown by highly experienced crews, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, copilot 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,” the airline declared.
Translation: stop panicking, we know exactly what we’re doing, and we have the data to prove it.
The spectacle saw two Embraer 190 passenger jets one in Springbok green and gold, the other in All Blacks black, perform a formation flyby at approximately 150 knots (278 km/h) that had the 55,000-strong Cape Town Stadium crowd on their feet.
The flight demanded meticulous planning and rehearsal, navigating at low altitude with millimetre precision. SACAA and Air Traffic Navigation Services provided guidance, approval and support throughout the process, ensuring every aspect met stringent safety requirements.
The tradition continues
The flyover has become synonymous with Springbok rugby, a tradition dating back to the 1995 Rugby World Cup final when a South African Airways Boeing 747 Jumbo flew over Ellis Park before kick-off in one of South African sport’s most iconic moments.
Twenty-nine years later, the tradition endures .
The global reaction
International media couldn’t resist weighing in, with varying degrees of alarm and grudging admiration.
Fox News and Sky Sports suggested the flyover was dangerously low and made headlines for the wrong reasons.
Australia’s Channel 7, meanwhile, couldn’t hide their envy, “As sporting stunts go, what you’re about to see will be hard to top.”
Also read: Was the Springbok vs All Blacks flypast too low? SA Airlink responds to viral backlash
Videos of the moment went viral across social media platforms, sparking heated debates in online forums and comment sections worldwide. Aviation enthusiasts, armchair experts, and concerned citizens lined up to express their horror at what they perceived as reckless behaviour.
Ministerial backing
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson, who witnessed the flyover from the stadium, also backed Airlink with a defence that carried more than a hint of South African defiance.
“It’s laughable to see aviation experts going on about the Airlink flyover,” Macpherson said. “You don’t see headlines about our pilots being drunk and disorderly like you do in other countries. We are just fine here in South Africa.”
The minister caught the flyover from an excellent vantage point and declared that South Africa had “the best and most skilled pilots in the world” a statement that might sound like hyperbole elsewhere but resonates with a nation that’s produced world-class aviators for generations.
The spectacle that thrilled a nation
Whatever international critics might say, the 55,000 fans packed into Cape Town Stadium absolutely loved it. The roar when those jets screamed overhead rivalled anything the Springboks produced during the match itself.
Two aircraft. One in green and gold. One in all black. Flying in perfect formation metres above the stadium roof. It was sporting theatre at its finest, a spectacle that gave fans goosebumps and created a moment they’ll remember long after the final score fades from memory.
