Airline says the flyover was authorized, planned and carried out within safety limits; estimates based on ADS-B data indicate the aircraft passed between 12.5 and 14 meters above the stadium’s highest point
Two Embraer jets operated by South African airline Airlink drew attention on Saturday (29) after performing a low-altitude flyover of DHL Stadium in Cape Town ahead of the rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand.
The maneuver quickly gained attention on social media, mainly because of the apparent proximity of one of the aircraft to the stadium structure. Videos recorded from different locations show the jets crossing above the venue while more than 50,000 people were in the stands.
One of the aircraft involved was the Embraer E195AR registered ZS-YDE. Preliminary ADS-B data indicated a minimum barometric altitude of around 50 feet, approximately 15 meters, using the standard pressure reference applied to this type of transmission.
Source and images: Airlink, X @Fly_Airlink | Aviation Repórter, X @TripppleSeven7
