By Zuko Komisa

- The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is investigating an Airlink stadium flypast over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium ahead of the Springboks vs All Blacks match.
- Following viral social media footage and public safety concerns, the SACAA has downloaded flight data recorders and requested further operational details from the airline.
- Airlink has withdrawn its application for a third scheduled flypast while the aviation regulator reviews compliance to uphold South Africa’s spotless commercial safety record.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has launched an investigation into Airlink following a formation flyover at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium during last weekend’s Springboks versus All Blacks international rugby test.
Viral footage of the manoeuvre sparked widespread public concern across social media, prompting the aviation regulator to initiate formal compliance checks.
The watchdog has engaged directly with the airline, downloaded flight data recordings, and requested further technical information before finalising its findings in a upcoming safety assessment report.
Airlink had initially applied for three separate stadium flypasts under regulations governing non-passenger and non-cargo commercial flights. The Cape Town display on 29 August was the second approved event, following a previous flyover in Johannesburg on 22 August.
However, Airlink informed regulators on Tuesday that it has withdrawn its application for a third flypast planned for the coming weekend.
Emphasising its commitment to rigorous safety oversight, the SACAA highlighted the country’s outstanding global aviation standing:
“South Africa has one of the most sought-after aviation talents in the world, and as a country we remain proud of our 0% record in fatal accidents in the commercial airline operations space for over four decades. This is a record we intend to uphold well into the future. It is therefore critical that we interrogate this past weekend’s events with clear minds and data at our disposal to determine whether there were any safety concerns that warrant a review, as we seek to continuously strengthen our safety standards.”
South Africa currently ranks seventh globally and first in Africa for civil aviation safety standards, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The regulator reaffirmed that uncompromising compliance remains the cornerstone of maintaining the nation’s world-class safety track record.
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