Viral Video Shows Airlink Jets Flying Dangerously Close to DHL Stadium Roof in Cape Town Before Springboks vs All Blacks
Two regional airline jets were caught on camera flying dangerously close to the roof of a packed South African stadium during a dramatic pre-game flyover, sparking alarm among fans and social media users who watched the near-miss unfold in real time.
Two regional airline jets were caught on camera flying dangerously close to the roof of a packed South African stadium during a dramatic pre-game flyover, sparking alarm among fans and social media users who watched the near-miss unfold in real time. Videos taken from multiple angles atop the venue show the aircraft appearing to come within just a few feet of the stadium roof as fireworks exploded below, with one horrified onlooker writing online that it looked like the planes had almost hit the top of the structure.
The pair of Embraer E-Jets, belonging to South African regional carrier Airlink, performed the ultra low-altitude flyby over the 55,000-capacity DHL Stadium in Cape Town just before kickoff on Saturday, ahead of the international rugby clash between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks, according to local outlet Cape Town Etc.
Two Airlink Embraer Planes Flew Just Above DHL Stadium in South Africa, Almost Hitting the Roof
Terrifying moment in Cape Town: Two Airlink Embraer planes flew just above DHL Stadium in South Africa, almost hitting the roof — videos from multiple angles pic.twitter.com/rRq1oSyov5
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 30, 2026
Dramatic Footage Sparks Online Reaction
The flyover, which was broadcast live on national television, showed the jets specially painted in all-green livery for the match as they thundered remarkably low above the stadium roof. Different video angles posted to social media captured the aircraft sweeping incredibly close to the top of the 164-foot structure, with the tail of the first jet appearing to dip toward the stadium as it pitched upward.
Social media users reacted with shock to the footage. "That was a bit dicey if you ask me. Shoo-wee," one person wrote, while another called the moment potentially "catastrophic." A separate user pointed out that both aircraft appeared too low, adding that stadium pyrotechnics may not have been factored into the flight planning. Plane Crash in Brazil: Small Plane Crashes Into Building in Belo Horizonte, Pilot Trapped in Wreckage; Chilling Video Surfaces.
Was It Actually Dangerous?
While one camera angle appeared to show the first jet nearly skimming the stadium roof, another video suggested there was more clearance between the aircraft and the building than initially thought. Flight tracking data reportedly showed the aircraft flying at a barometric altitude of around 164 feet above the stadium, according to aviation outlet PYOK. Pennsylvania Plane Crash: Cessna Pilot Killed After Collision With State Police Helicopter Near Carlisle Airport (Videos).
Experts note that aircraft flying near large structures such as stadiums can appear far closer than they actually are, especially when filmed from a low camera angle, and that a change in aircraft pitch during a flyover can make the spectacle look more dramatic than it is. Available flight data does not suggest the Airlink jets were actually at risk of colliding with the stadium, Cape Town Etc reported.
A Longstanding South African Tradition
Low-altitude flybys have been a longstanding tradition in South African sporting history. The practice dates back to the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, when a South African Airways Boeing 747 flew low over a packed Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg ahead of the same fixture between South Africa and New Zealand.
Airlink has not yet responded to a request for comment on the incident.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2026 07:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
