A packed crowd gasped as two commercial jets skimmed low over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium ahead of the second Greatest Rivalry clash between the Springboks and the All Blacks last Saturday.

Footage of the dramatic flyover went viral, sparking headlines from Cape to Cairo and from London to Sydney.

It ignited debate about whether the manoeuvre was daring or dangerous.

Local aviator commands the cockpit

For Lowvelders, though, the name behind the controls was familiar. Captain Jaco Henning, a seasoned Airlink pilot and regular performer at local airshows, has long been part of the region’s aviation heartbeat.

Residents recall his precision flying at the Lowveld Air Show – a moment that cemented his reputation as a pilot who can blend spectacle with safety.

On Saturday, Henning, who in his younger days played first-team rugby for Hoërskool Ermelo and also played wing for the Junior Springboks, was at the controls of the black Airlink ZS-YDA, leading the pack.

During the first Springbok-All Black match played on Saturday, August 11, Henning was also the pilot of the Springbok green aeroplane with tail number ZS-YEA.

Henning, instructed by Airlink not to give interviews, declined to speak to Lowvelder.

But his presence in the cockpit is a reminder of how deeply the Lowveld’s aviation culture connects to national sporting moments.

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Flight data confirms 14m stadium clearance

The Cape Town flyover involved two Embraer jets, one painted in Springbok green and the other in All Black black, each crewed by three senior captains to ensure oversight. Flight data showed the aircraft passed about 41-46 feet (about 12.5- 14 m) above the stadium roof at roughly 150 knots, a speed equivalent to 278km/h.

Airlink said: “The flight demanded careful planning and rehearsal, as it required navigating at low altitude, at around 150 knots. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and Air Traffic Navigation Services provided valuable guidance, approval, and support to ensure a safe flyby.”

The airline voluntarily submitted black box data to SACAA to confirm compliance with safety limits.

International reaction was swift. Many described the flyover as “dangerously low”, while aviation experts clarified that the manoeuvre was safe and within regulations, noting that camera angles exaggerated the closeness.

The spectacle drew comparisons to the iconic 1995 Ellis Park Boeing 747 flyover, reinforcing South Africa’s tradition of dramatic stadium aviation displays.

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Safety authority prepares official response

Responding to public interest, SACAA confirmed it is preparing a media release. “We have received a lot of queries regarding the Cape Town Stadium flyover,” said spokesperson Sisa Majola. “SACAA will issue a media statement in due course, once all necessary processes have been completed.”