Airlink Cancels Repeat of Viral Stadium Flypast as Regulator Reviews Display

Airlink has canceled a planned repeat of its viral stadium flypast, just as South Africa’s aviation regulator examines whether the earlier display followed safety rules.

The airline withdrew its application for a formation flyby before Saturday’s Springboks-All Blacks test at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium. Airlink cited forecasts of unfavorable weather and said conditions would not support a safe formation flight.

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We are currently conducting a compliance verification just to satisfy ourselves that all safety protocols were adhered to by the crew.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority is conducting a compliance verification of the August 29 flypast over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium. The regulator said it is analyzing flight-data recorder downloads supplied by Airlink and has requested further information before reaching a conclusion.

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was performed safely

Two Airlink Embraer aircraft flew in formation over the packed stadium before the second test between South Africa and New Zealand, attracting widespread attention online. Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 said the lead plane passed less than 50 feet, or 15 meters, above the stadium roof.

Airlink said the flypast was performed safely by three senior captains with a combined 75,000 hours of flying experience. Chief Executive de Villiers Engelbrecht said the airline had heard the enthusiasm for another display at FNB Stadium, but the weather forecast pointed to conditions unfavorable for a safe formation flyby. South Africa and New Zealand entered Saturday’s match level at 1-1 in their four-test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

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Although we have also heard the widespread enthusiasm for a flyby at FNB Stadium this weekend, the forecast weather points to unfavourable conditions for a safe formation flyby.