Qatar Airways-backed airline Airlink defends Springboks flypast manoeuvre
The Qatar Airways-backed airline, Airlink, have defended a double flypast over South Africa’s rugby union match against New Zealand after online backlash.
Two passenger jets flew above the DHL Stadium in Cape Town with flight tracking website Flightradar24 stating that one of the two planes cleared the arena’s roof by less than 15 metres.
And whether the move was one of skill or stupidity has been at the centre of online debate since, though Airlink parent SA Airlink Pty Ltd stated that the manoeuvre was conducted with “approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast”.
The airline had also conducted a two-plane flypast at the first Test match in a four-game series between the Springboks and All Blacks – next week’s match will take place in Johannesburg with the series level at 1-1, while a fourth money-spinner will be staged at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium.
Airlink safety demonstration
“The two aircraft were flown by highly experienced crew, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer,” the airline said.
South Africa has a history of passenger plane flypasts at its rugby union matches, with South African Airways Boeing 747 flying over Ellis Park ahead of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It is common elsewhere, in places like the United States, for flypasts to consist of military jets.
Airlink will perform a third flypast in three weeks this weekend at the 95,000-capacity FNB Stadium in Soweto ahead of the next Test match.
New Zealand took an early lead in the series dubbed Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry – a month-long rugby series akin to the British and Irish Lions tours – with a 33-16 victory over the Springboks in Johannesburg.
The host nation leveled the series in Cape Town, however, with a 33-26 victory over the All Blacks.