LISTEN: Aviation expert weighs in on Airlink flyover - ‘everybody must just calm down’

An aviation expert says the dramatic flyover before the rugby match at the weekend may have looked dangerously low to some spectators, but it appears to have been well within aviation rules.

Two Airlink planes flew through colourful smoke above Cape Town's DHL Stadium moments before the Springboks-All Blacks clash on Saturday.

The flypast has since sparked global debate over whether the aircraft flew too close the stadium.

" If it was from a marketing point of view, absolutely brilliant. Everybody's talking about it, everybody's watching the video, and everybody's got an opinion, and we've gained about two million armchair pilots as well, which is absolutely fantastic," says aviation expert, Wouter Botes.

Airlink is a very well-known brand and a very well-known established company. They will never take a chance if it's not something they've researched.

- Wouter Botes

Flight-tracking data later showed the aircraft cleared the stadium roof by roughly 12 to 14 metres.

The double flyover made headlines around the world, with some international outlets describing it as a near collision, a "terrifying" stunt and even suggesting the aircraft nearly hit the stadium.

Airlink says the flypast was carefully planned, rehearsed and conducted within safety limits approved by the aviation authorities.

Flypast explained

Botes says the pilots would have meticulously checked the weather and conditions before attempting the low-level flight.

" Personally, I think it was a good publicity stunt, but I wouldn't do that.

"I wouldn't fly that low. But in retrospect, I think it went well, and I think they really did their planning before they did that. So, I don't think the hype is really worth it. Everybody must just calm down."

Fans used to flyovers

Flypasts are nothing new at South African rugby matches, with one of the most iconic taking place before the 1995 Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park.

ALSO READ: ‘Her life mattered’: Family seeks answers over pregnant woman’s killing

Newswatch asked Botes whether this flypast was anything out of the ordinary compared with previous flyovers at major sporting events.

" If you look at Loftus where the World Cup was played and you had the 747s going by, I mean, that's a huge plane. So, they wouldn't have done it at that altitude with that plane. These planes are a little bit smaller. Their power-to-weight ratio is much better. I can assure you that they weren't very far from overloaded in fact.

"So, your performance is much higher. If there was a problem, they would have easily flown out of it. You must see it in that respect. The type of plane was chosen for the performance it can do. So, I think that will settle the whole thing."