South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has initiated a formal compliance review of the Airlink formation flyover above DHL Stadium on 29 August, while the airline has cancelled a planned repeat ahead of the 5 September test in Johannesburg due to unfavourable weather forecasts.
The Cape Town flypast — two custom-liveried Airlink Embraer jets passing low over the stadium in front of approximately 58 000 spectators ahead of the second Rugby's Greatest Rivalry test between the Springboks and the All Blacks — went viral internationally and drew sharp criticism over perceived safety risks. Flightradar24's analysis placed the lead aircraft at between 12.5 and 14 metres above the stadium's highest structure at its lowest point.
The SACAA confirmed that Airlink had completed all required pre-operation procedures, including simulator practice, before executing the manoeuvre. Despite that clearance, the public reaction prompted the authority to engage directly with Airlink, obtain flight data recordings and open compliance verifications.
Airlink has pushed back firmly against accusations of recklessness, stating that safety was the primary consideration at every stage and that the two aircraft were crewed by teams of three senior captains each. The airline also offered to submit its own flight data to the review, arguing it is more precise than public tracking applications such as Flightradar24.
On the Johannesburg cancellation, Airlink cited forecast weather as incompatible with a safe formation flypast. The Cape Town display was the second in a series of three planned flyovers tied to the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, following the first at Ellis Park on 22 August.