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Pure Madness or Incredible Maneuver? Watch the Dramatic Flyover Above the Stadium
🇭🇷 Croatia /Sports

Pure Madness or Incredible Maneuver? Watch the Dramatic Flyover Above the Stadium

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Two specially painted Airlink Embraer aircraft made a low flyover above DHL Stadium in Cape Town before a South Africa-New Zealand rugby match.
  • Flight data reportedly put the first aircraft 12.5 to 14 meters above the roof, while footage showed the second passing through pyrotechnic smoke.
  • Airlink said the maneuver had been planned, rehearsed and approved within limits set by South African aviation authorities and air traffic control.

Two aircraft passed so low over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium that the flyover delighted some rugby fans and alarmed others before the All Blacks played the Springboks.

Nearly 60,000 spectators watched the two specially painted Embraer aircraft operated by Airlink. The airline is the official domestic carrier for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 tour and had already carried out a similar formation flyover above Ellis Park.

pure madness

— Instagram commenterA commenter criticized the low flyover on the All Blacks’ Instagram post.

The Cape Town maneuver generated a sharp reaction online. The All Blacks posted footage on Instagram and called it impressive. Other users took a darker view. One described the flyover as “pure madness,” while another wrote, “I never thought the rugby rivalry would interrupt a pilot.” A commentator on X said it was “only a light gust of wind away from an unimaginable catastrophe.”

I never thought the rugby rivalry would interrupt a pilot.

— Instagram commenterAnother commenter reacted to the aircraft’s passage above the stadium.

FlightRadar data later cited by South African media indicated why the scene looked so tense. The first plane reportedly crossed above the stadium roof with a gap of about 12.5 to 14 meters. Video appeared to show the second aircraft passing through smoke from pyrotechnics on the roof.

Airlink said the maneuver was planned, rehearsed and approved, and stayed within limits established by South African aviation authorities and air traffic control.

only a light gust of wind away from an unimaginable catastrophe

— Commentator on XThe commentator described the perceived danger of the maneuver.
About this summary

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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