South African airline behind daring stadium stunt cancels next flyby, regulator says

What the report says

South African carrier Airlink has backed away from a planned repeat of its stadium flyby this weekend, after last Saturday’s closely watched aerial display over a packed rugby venue in Cape Town drew both praise and criticism. The country’s civil aviation authority, SACAA, said the airline will not carry out the similar operation that had been scheduled over a stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, for the decisive third Test between South Africa and New Zealand.

According to SACAA, the airline had already received approval for the earlier flyby, including safety measures, and the regulator said the company followed the required procedures. Even so, SACAA said it is now examining the incident further after media discussion about the manoeuvre. The authority said it has obtained flight data and other material for additional analysis.

The stunt featured two aircraft flying in close formation low over the stadium before the match, with tracking data cited by BBC reporting suggesting the lead plane passed very close above the venue. Airlink said the flight was carried out within approved altitude and speed limits by an experienced crew. The episode has wider significance because stadium flybys are a familiar feature at major South African events, but they also raise recurring questions about public safety, risk, and how far spectacle should go.