'Could've been catastrophic'
New York Post • • sports
Key Points:
- Two Airlink Embraer E-Jets performed an ultra low-altitude flyover above Cape Town's 55,000-capacity DHL Stadium before a rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand, appearing to come dangerously close to the stadium roof.
- Videos showed the jets flying just feet above the 164-foot stadium roof, with some viewers expressing concern and describing the flyover as "dicey" and potentially "catastrophic."
- Flight data indicated the aircraft maintained an altitude around 164 feet, and experts noted that camera angles and aircraft pitch can exaggerate perceived proximity to structures, suggesting no actual collision risk.
- Low-altitude flyovers are a longstanding tradition in South African sports, dating back to a 1995 Rugby World Cup final flyover by a South African Airways Boeing 747.
- Airlink has not yet commented on the incident, which sparked debate about safety and coordination with stadium pyrotechnics during such events.
