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Grounded.
Plans for another dramatic flyover ahead of Saturday’s third Test between the Springboks and All Blacks have been shelved following the controversy surrounding last weekend’s display in Cape Town.
Airlink has withdrawn its application to conduct another pre-match flypast at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, where the two great rivals will meet with Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series level at 1-1.
The decision follows the extraordinary scenes before South Africa’s 33-26 victory at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
Two Airlink Embraer aircraft flew extremely low over the stadium shortly before kick-off, creating a spectacular moment for supporters inside the ground.
Footage quickly went viral, however, with the height of the aircraft prompting a significant debate over the safety of the manoeuvre.
Airlink subsequently defended the flyover, insisting it had been carefully planned and rehearsed and was conducted by experienced crews within approved parameters.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority has since been reviewing data relating to the Cape Town display.
Another flypast had been planned ahead of this weekend’s third Test, but that will now no longer go ahead after Airlink withdrew its application.
According to reports in South Africa, the airline made the decision while the aviation authority’s compliance review into the Cape Town flyover remains ongoing.
It marks a significant change to the pre-match plans for what is expected to be another enormous occasion at FNB Stadium.
The controversy has added an unexpected off-field subplot to a series which has already produced two fascinating Tests.
New Zealand claimed a 33-16 victory at Ellis Park in the opening encounter before the Springboks responded with a 33-26 win in Cape Town.
Saturday’s third Test will be the final game of the series on South African soil before both teams travel to Baltimore for the fourth and final encounter.
