WATCH: Airlink’s jaw-dropping flyover at DHL Stadium leaves South Africa stunned
Not AI. Not CGI. Just South Africa!
If you’ve been anywhere near social media this weekend, chances are you’ve seen the video.
Two Airlink jets, the DHL Stadium, thousands of rugby fans, pyrotechnics and a flyover so low that, for a few heart-stopping seconds, South Africans collectively wondered whether their eyes were playing tricks on them.
But no; it wasn’t AI or CGI. It was South Africa.
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Wait… what happened?
Just before the Springboks and All Blacks took to the field at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, two Airlink aircrafts delivered a flyover that has since taken over social media both locally and internationally.
look how low this flyover looked. two airlink passenger jets just flew over dhl stadium in cape town ahead of the springboks vs. all blacks match. pic.twitter.com/5r5nB1j9ti
— Michael Rusch (@weeddude) August 29, 2026
While some viewers were left clutching their pearls, others had a much simpler reaction:“Give those pilots a Bells!”
A moment that had everyone looking up
The two Embraer jets swept over the stadium in formation, with one aircraft dressed in Springbok green and the other representing the All Blacks in black.
As pyrotechnics exploded around the stadium, the aircrafts roared overhead in a moment that perfectly captured the scale of one of rugby’s greatest rivalries.
From some camera angles, the jets appeared unbelievably close to the stadium roof, and flight-tracking analysis later estimated that the lead aircraft passed approximately 12.5 to 14 metres above the top of the stadium.
Yes. You read that correctly. Not kilometres. Metres.
The moment immediately sparked debate online, with international audiences questioning whether what they were watching was real.
Meanwhile, South Africans were doing what South Africans do best: making memes, cracking jokes and proudly reminding the world that sometimes, in this country, we simply don’t do things halfway.
Planning. Precision. Performance.
Airlink has since addressed concerns around the flyover, saying the flight involved careful planning and rehearsal.
According to the airline, the flypast was conducted with guidance, approval and support from the South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services.
Planning. Precision. Performance. ✈️✈️
— Airlink (@Fly_Airlink) August 29, 2026
Spectacular scenes of Airlink’s double Embraer flyover at the DHL Stadium.
Airlink is Proud Official Sponsor of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, presented by Castle Double Malt 🏉#Airlink #FlyAirlink #FlyTheLink #Skybucks #RugbysGreatestRivalry pic.twitter.com/3tPNepftLS
The aircrafts were also flown by highly experienced crews, with three senior captains on board each aircraft.
Airlink says flight data confirmed that the jets remained within the approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast.
So while social media may have collectively aged five years watching the footage, Airlink says the spectacular manoeuvre went exactly according to plan.
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South Africa reminded the world who we are
There was something about this moment that went beyond rugby.
Yes, it was spectacular. Yes, it was dramatic, and yes, some of us are probably still replaying the video and shouting, “Nah, look how LOW that thing is!”
But for many South Africans, it was also a reminder of something special.
The ability to create moments that stop people in their tracks. The ability to put on a world-class sporting spectacle.
The ability to make millions of people across the globe look at South Africa and say “wait… what just happened?!”
This was a moment of pure South African theatre. Theflyover may have lasted only a few seconds, but the conversation around it?
Plenty of South Africans are proudly saying the same thing…
“Only in South Africa.”
