Airlink jets flew within 50 feet of South Africa stadium roof in viral pre-match flyover stunt that left fans terrified
Flight-tracking data confirmed one Airlink jet dropped to a barometric altitude of just 164 feet above sea level — level with the stadium roof itself — over a crowd of 55,000.The second Airlink jet flew directly into smoke from a pyrotechnic that had exploded above the roofline, as both aircraft ripped through fireworks at around 220kph.A New Zealand-liveried jet appeared to tip its tail toward the stadium before pulling sharply upward at the last second over the packed Cape Town crowd.
Two Airlink Embraer jets passed as close as 50 feet to the roof of Cape Town's 55,000-capacity DHL Stadium during a low-altitude flyover ahead of Saturday's Springboks vs All Blacks rugby Test, a detail confirmed by flight tracking data. The lead aircraft's tail appeared to dip toward the roofline before pitching sharply upward at the last second, while the second jet cut through pyrotechnics fired from the stadium roof. Airlink has insisted both planes flew within 'approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits', but the footage triggered widespread alarm on social media. South Africa won the match 33-26.
One jet flew through fireworks detonating above the stadium roof at around 220kph, prompting fans to condemn the stunt as 'absolutely unnecessary and dangerous'.
'Someone will and should be fired for that — an almost unimaginable disaster,' one onlooker posted on X, with former cricketer Kevin Pietersen simply tweeting: 'CRIKEY!'
Airlink celebrated the event on social media with talk of 'planning, precision, performance', describing the footage as 'spectacular scenes' from its double Embraer flyover.
