Dramatic footage has emerged showing the heart-stopping moment two passenger jets appeared to skim dangerously close to a packed sports stadium during a pre-match flyover.
The videos, filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, captured a pair of Airlink Embraer E-Jets flying at an astonishingly low altitude over the 55,000-capacity DHL Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Several clips show the aircraft roaring past as bright pyrotechnics erupted from the stadium roof, with fans inside the venue cheering the dramatic display.
From some camera angles, the rear of the planes seemed to pass alarmingly close to the top of the stadium, giving viewers the impression they were only moments from clipping the structure.
The jets were about 41 to 46 feet above the top of DHL Stadium, which stands roughly 164 feet tall near sea level, per FlightRadar.
The eye-catching flyover took place before the rugby clash between South Africa’s Springboks and New Zealand’s All Blacks, a fixture featured in the series promoted as “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.”
Airlink, an official partner of the series, celebrated the display afterward, describing the matchday moment as part of the “spectacular scenes” surrounding the event.
Online reaction, however, was far less celebratory, with many social media users expressing shock and branding the low-flying stunt “dangerous” and “moronic.”
Footage filmed Saturday at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, appeared to capture an unusually low pre-game flyover above the venue.
The Airlink Embraer E-Jets jets breezed through colourful pyrotechnics let off at the top of the stadium
Despite the apparent proximity, there was never any indication that a dangerous incident could have happened because of the low-altitude flyover
One online commenter called the flyovers ‘absolutely unnecessary and dangerous.’
‘That was close,’ a second user added, sharing a video where a jet’s wing looked to nearly strike the stadium.
The two jets used in Saturday’s flyover were registered as ZS-YAE and ZS-YDE, according to CPT Aviation.
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Both were painted in special green and black colors, respectively, for the occasion.
Another user opined that the flyover ‘could’ve been a MAJOR disaster.’
Another added: ‘I mean, cool but how is that safe?’
Other commenters insisted that the stunt was ‘too dangerous’ and that ‘too many people’s lives were put at risk’ as a result.
‘Some of these people travelled internationally to enjoy the games,’ one user wrote.
But despite the shocked reactions, there was never any indication that anyone was in danger during the awe-inspiring stunt.
In another angle, it looked like the back of one of the jets was close to clipping the 55,00-seat stadium
A photo of the flyover before the game between South Africa and New Zealand. Flyovers have been common for important rugby games in South Africa going back to the 1990s
The jets used during Saturday’s flyover, seen pictured here, were painted in green and black colors especially for the match
Airlink touted the flyover on Saturday after it happened, writing on X: ‘Planning. Precision. Performance.’
Low-altitude flyovers are relatively common for big rugby games in South Africa going back to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final.
While many viewers were stunned, others defended the flyover calling it ‘beautiful’ or ‘spectacular.’
‘Only the weak of heart and mind will criticise this, but then again, those dudes need a license to go crap in the woods whilst camping,’ another said.
Our News Outlet has reached out to Airlink and DHL Stadium for comment.
