Airlink has offered SA’s aviation regulator black-box data from the two aircraft that flew low over DHL Stadium before Saturday's Springbok Test against the All Blacks, reports IoL.

This comes after video of the flypast grabbed international headlines, with some saying it had been dangerous and potentially ‘catastrophic’.

‘Airlink, on its own initiative, has volunteered these data sets to the SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) so it can independently review and verify that the flypast was in accordance with the flight authorisation,’ the airline said in a statement issued by spokesperson Linden Birns, adding that the airline would make no further comment until the regulator had reviewed the data.

Airlink said the flypast took careful planning and was rehearsed beforehand.

The Sacaa and Air Traffic Navigation Services gave guidance, approval and support for the flight, the airline said.

Each aircraft carried three senior captains, one flying as commander, one as co-pilot, and a third responsible for safety and technical checks. Sacaa said it would release a statement in due course. 

Ruck understands the incident has been discussed internally at World Rugby, although there is currently no suggestion that a formal investigation has been launched.

Sources have indicated that the governing body would prefer to stay out of the growing backlash, particularly given the flyover was approved by the relevant SA aviation authorities.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus told News24 he had no concerns about the flyover, adding that the pilots had assured him the aircraft had flown at the intended altitude and that the stadium’s roof had created an ‘optical illusion’ that made them appear lower than they actually were.

‘One of the pilots sat with us in the plane back to Johannesburg. We flew early (Sunday), and the pilot basically said that they actually flew higher at Cape Town Stadium than they normally do at Ellis Park,’ Erasmus said International airline captain and aviation educator, Captain Chris Pohl, said behind the ‘few seconds’ were hours of planning, preparation, co-ordination and training.

‘Aviation is full of moments that look effortless – because professionals have worked incredibly hard to make them look that way.’

Full IoL report

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