There will be no pre-match flyover at FNB Stadium this weekend after Airlink withdrew its application for a third flypast ahead of the series-deciding Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Test between the Springboks and All Blacks.
The decision follows the SACAA's announcement that it is investigating the formation flyby over DHL Stadium on 29 August, before South Africa's 33-26 victory that levelled the series at one apiece. The Cape Town flypast went viral globally after one of the two aircraft passed an estimated 15 metres above the venue's roof.
The SACAA confirmed that Airlink had originally submitted three flypast applications for the series. The first was executed without incident in Johannesburg on 22 August. The second, in Cape Town, was also approved through the standard regulatory process — including a simulator practice flight and a pre-operation safety briefing — but the proximity to the stadium's roof triggered a formal compliance review. The regulator has since obtained Flight Data Recording downloads from the aircraft and requested additional information from Airlink as part of its analysis.
Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht acknowledged both the public enthusiasm for the Cape Town flyby and the concerns raised, stating that the airline never intended to overshadow the match itself. The third application, covering this weekend's Soweto fixture, has been withdrawn while the investigation runs its course.
The SACAA has indicated it will share a full report and recommendations with Airlink once its assessment is complete.