South Africa v New Zealand investigation announced as key data handed over

South Africa and New Zealand’s second Test at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium drew global attention when two Airlink Embraer 190 aircraft flew low over the ground moments before kick-off, passing through smoke from pyrotechnics. Local reporting and Flightradar data said the planes cleared the top of the stadium roof by about 12 metres. After the stunt went viral and sparked debate over how close it was, Airlink voluntarily handed over black-box data from both aircraft to the South African Civil Aviation Authority for independent review. The SACAA will check whether the flypast complied with flight authorisation. Airlink said it would not comment further. Analyst Guy Leitch said it followed an approved sequence within limits, while coach Rassie Erasmus suggested the clearance footage could be an “optical illusion.”