On Saturday 29 August 2026, South African airline Airlink carried out an awe-inspiring flyover during a Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry match in Cape Town. Footage of the two aircraft flying above the stadium quickly spread online, prompting the airline to address public concerns in a statement.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, a four-match series between South Africa’s Springboks and New Zealand’s All Blacks, is currently underway. Airlink is the official carrier of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 and is responsible for flying the players, coaches, management and support staff of both teams.
Planning. Precision. Performance. ✈️✈️
— Airlink (@Fly_Airlink) August 29, 2026
Spectacular scenes of Airlink’s double Embraer flyover at the DHL Stadium.
Airlink is Proud Official Sponsor of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, presented by Castle Double Malt 🏉#Airlink #FlyAirlink #FlyTheLink #Skybucks #RugbysGreatestRivalry pic.twitter.com/3tPNepftLS
On Saturday 29 August, the Springboks and the All Blacks met at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, for their second encounter, following a 33-16 victory for New Zealand a week earlier. Airlink performed a flyover with two Embraer E-Jets before the start of the match, just as it had done one week earlier.
Although flyovers aren’t unusual in the world of sport, footage of the event immediately went viral online. Members of the public, especially those present at DHL Stadium, were shocked by the altitude at which both aircraft were flying. Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 appeared to confirm just how low the aircraft were: according to itscalculations, the planes flew less than 15 metres (50 feet) above the 55,000-capacity stadium, low enough to make some people panic.
However, according to Airlink, there was nothing to worry about. Both flights were reportedly within the safety altitude and speed limits approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). Due to the aircraft’s low altitude and low speed (278 kilometres per hour, or 150 knots), the stunt was preceded by careful planning and rehearsal, with guidance from the SACAA and Air Traffic and Navigation Services.
Nevertheless, Airlink responded to the concerns and criticism shared online following the viral footage.
“Airlink notes the concerns expressed in various social media and online forums regarding yesterday’s formation flyby over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium. The two aircraft were flown by highly experienced crew, with each comprising three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer. The flight data recorded by both aircraft confirms that the flights were performed within the SACAA’s approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast,” the airline said in a statement published on the South African transport website Arrive Alive.
It is unclear whether the third match in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series will also be preceded by a flyover, given the concerns raised by members of the public.
The tradition dates back at least to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final between the Springboks and the All Blacks, when a South African Airways 747 performed a flyover carrying the message “Good luck Bokke”. The Springboks went on to win the match and the World Cup, and since then, flyovers have become a familiar feature of major rugby occasions in South Africa.
