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Airlink Flyover Cleared Stadium Roof by 12–14m

9/1/2026

26 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Airlink flew two Embraer jets just above Cape Town’s DHL Stadium before the Springboks-All Blacks test.
Flightradar24 calculated the lead jet cleared the roof by about 41–46 feet (12–14 metres).
Airlink said the aircraft travelled at roughly 150 knots (278 km/h) within approved altitude and speed limits.
Aviation experts including Chris Martinus warned the low margin for error made the flyover unnecessarily risky.

History

Historical Context

The 1952 Farnborough airshow crash of a DH-110 killed 29 spectators and forced new UK display safety rules, while a 1984 Buffalo crash highlighted risks of steep low-level passes. Today, Airlink’s Embraer jet skimmed Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, prompting the Civil Aviation Authority and aviation experts to demand tighter regulations on low-altitude maneuvers.

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Story summary

Airlink flew two Embraer jets just above Cape Town’s DHL Stadium before the Springboks-All Blacks test.
Flightradar24 calculated the lead jet cleared the roof by about 41–46 feet (12–14 metres).
Airlink said the aircraft travelled at roughly 150 knots (278 km/h) within approved altitude and speed limits.
Aviation experts including Chris Martinus warned the low margin for error made the flyover unnecessarily risky.

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