South Africa's air regulatory agency, SACAA, instituted an inquiry to investigate a controversial aerial display that occurred over DHL Stadium during a rugby match between the New Zealand and South Africa national teams. The maneuver generated widespread backlash on social media after videos of the aircraft passage went viral on digital platforms, prompting public questions about the safety of the operation.
The aircraft used in the display were Embraer jets of the E190 and E195 models, which according to measurements from air traffic tracking services passed at a distance of only 12.5 to 14 meters from the top of the stadium, at an approximate speed of 278 km/h. The operation was the second stage of a trio of scheduled demonstrations.
Following the controversy, the company responsible for the jets backed down and decided not to carry out the third presentation that had been scheduled. SACAA decided to examine the flight records and demand additional clarification from the airline to determine the circumstances of the incident and any violations of aviation safety regulations.
