South African airline defends low-altitude aerial stunt over packed stadium

Image source, ReutersByDamian ZanePublished11 minutes agoThe South African airline behind a dramatic stunt that saw two of its aircraft in close formation fly reportedly within feet of the top of a stadium has defended itself in the face of some criticism.The jets roared over Cape Town's DHL stadium as flares shot up before the start of a rugby match featuring fierce rivals South Africa and New Zealand.Some labelled the manoeuvre reckless, while others have praised the precision and expertise required to pull it off. In response, Airlink said it was carefully planned with the support of the aviation authorities.Image source, Gallo Images/Getty ImagesImage caption, The planes - one green, one black - flew over the stadium shortly before the start of the South Africa-New Zealand match"Planning. Precision. Performance," was the airline's message in social media posts, external accompanied by the footage.In a statement reproduced on a government news site, external, Airlink went into more detail."The two aircraft were flown by highly experienced crew, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer," the airline said.It added that the flights were performed with the "approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast".The flight tracking website Flightradar24, external said that according to its analysis "the lead aircraft passed less than 50 feet (15 metres) above the top of the stadium".Questions have been raised over the risk and potential for disaster involving two planes and a packed stadium, but many South Africans have responded with expressions of national pride that its country's pilots could pull this off.The low-altitude flyby has become a feature of the build-up to some big matches.The most notable was when a South African Airways jet flew over a Johannesburg stadium before the start of the 1995 rugby World Cup final which saw South Africa beat New Zealand. The match, immortalised in the Hollywood film Invictus, was highly symbolic as the country's first black president, Nelson Mandela, donned the jersey of national side, which had been closely associated with the apartheid government and previously excluded players who were not white.South Africa hold off All Blacks fightback to level seriesPublished1 day ago'I was born in South Africa', says beauty queen facing legal bid to deport herPublished19 AugustFrom former 'street kid' key to South Africa's police corruption inquiryPublished17 AugustGo to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, externalRelated topicsAfricaSouth AfricaBBC Africa podcastsFocus on AfricaThis Is Africa