Overview
- The two‑plane formation flew over DHL Stadium before the Springboks–All Blacks Test on Saturday, August 29, 2026, completed the pass without incident and the match went ahead with South Africa winning 33–26.
- Flightradar24’s ADS‑B barometric readout recorded about 50 feet at standard pressure which, after correcting for local QNH, equals roughly 205–210 feet above sea level and implies about 41–46 feet of clearance above the stadium’s 164‑foot roof.
- Airlink said the pass was planned, rehearsed and flown by experienced crews under guidance and approval from the South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services, and that onboard flight data show the display stayed inside approved altitude and speed limits.
- Multiple broadcast and social videos showed the jets appearing much closer than telemetry indicates and captured pyrotechnics discharging near the trailing aircraft, prompting divided public reaction and pointed questions from aviation commentators about minimum‑altitude rules that normally require greater separation over crowds.
- Authorities and event organisers now face potential scrutiny or review of the approvals and the timing of pyrotechnics, and upcoming tour stops mean regulators’ findings could influence how future stadium flypasts are cleared and coordinated.