Airlink defends low-altitude stadium flyby as experts raise safety concerns
JOHANNESBURG — A pregame flyby of two passenger jets over a packed stadium in Cape Town drew cheers from a crowd of about 56,000 people but also triggered a debate over safety, with the airline operating the jets insisting the maneuver was conducted within approved limits.
The flyby took place on Saturday before a rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand at Cape Town Stadium. The two Embraer jets, operated by the South African regional carrier Airlink, a sponsor of the South African rugby team, were not carrying passengers, the airline said.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 estimated that the lead jet passed just 41 to 46 feet (12 to 14 meters) above the stadium roof. The second jet flew through a cloud of pink dust that shot up from the roof as part of the pregame show.
Airlink's statement
In a statement issued on Sunday, Airlink acknowledged the public reaction and defended the operation. "Airlink notes the concerns expressed in various social media and online forums regarding yesterday's formation flyby over Cape Town's DHL Stadium," the airline said.
"The flight demanded careful planning and rehearsal, as it required navigating at low altitude at around 150 knots," Airlink said. "The South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services provided valuable guidance, approval and support to ensure a safe flyby."
The airline said each aircraft was flown by three senior captains operating as commander, co-pilot, and safety or technical officer. Airlink added that flight data recorded by both aircraft confirmed the flypast was performed within the safety altitude and speed limits approved and rehearsed with the civil aviation authority.
Expert concerns
Some aviation experts questioned whether the margin for error was too small. Chris Martinus, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association South Africa, told The Associated Press he felt uncomfortable watching the lead aircraft's trajectory. "Basically, that lead aircraft ... was kind of like dodging the roof and climbing over the one side and dipping below and then climbing over the other side," he said. "If something adverse happens, you just don't have options at that kind of altitude."
Keith Tonkin, an Australian aviation consultant and former military and commercial pilot, said the Embraer passenger jets, designed for regional flights, were not intended for such low-level operations. "The bigger picture is that a benchmark has been established and others may expect to do something similar, and that's not going to end well," Tonkin said. He added that turbulence or a bird strike at that altitude could leave pilots with too little room to maneuver without hitting the stadium.
A tradition of flybys
South African rugby has a tradition of stadium flybys at major matches, beginning with a Boeing 747 that flew over a stadium in Johannesburg before the 1995 Rugby World Cup final between the same two teams. That flight, part of a highly symbolic match attended by then-President Nelson Mandela, was immortalized in the film "Invictus."
Saturday's flyby, however, was notably lower and more dramatic, generating global attention after being shown during the pregame broadcast and widely shared in videos recorded by spectators.