South African airline defends low-altitude aerial stunt over packed stadium
Monday, 31 August 2026
Warm-up
- Have you ever seen a flypast or air show? What was it like?
- How do you feel when planes fly close to a crowd or a stadium?
- What sports events in your country include special shows before the game?
Vocabulary
- manoeuvre
- a controlled movement that needs skill, often by a vehicle or plane
- formation
- a planned shape or pattern made by planes flying together
- altitude
- the height of something above the ground or sea level
- reckless
- not caring enough about risk or danger
- precision
- the quality of being exact and very accurate
- authorities
- official organisations or people who make and enforce rules
- crew
- the group of people who work on and operate a plane or ship
- flypast
- a planned flight over a place for display at an event
Reading
Airlink has defended a dramatic flypast in Cape Town, where two of its jets flew in close formation over the city’s DHL Stadium before a rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand. Some viewers called the manoeuvre reckless, while others praised its precision.
Airlink said the flight was carefully planned with the support of the aviation authorities. The airline said the two aircraft were flown by highly experienced crew, with three senior captains on each plane. It added that safety altitude and speed limits were approved and rehearsed.
The flight-tracking website Flightradar24 said its analysis showed the lead aircraft passed less than 50 feet (15 metres) above the top of the stadium. The low-altitude display reminded many of earlier flypasts, including a famous 1995 Johannesburg stadium moment, when a South African Airways jet flew over before the Rugby World Cup final, which South Africa won.
Comprehension
- Where did the two Airlink jets perform the flypast?
- What did some people criticise about the manoeuvre?
- How did Airlink describe the planning for the flight?
- According to Flightradar24, how close was the lead aircraft to the top?
- Which earlier event did this flypast remind many people of?
Grammar focus
Reported speech
Use a reporting verb (said/added) + a reported clause. When we report, present tenses often move back (e.g. is → was, have → had). The reported clause keeps the original meaning but usually changes tense.
- Airlink **said the flight was carefully planned**.
- Flightradar24 **said its analysis showed the lead aircraft passed** less than 50 feet.
Grammar exercise
Complete the reported clause with the correct verb form.
- After the stunt, Airlink said the flight (be) ___ planned.
- The airline added that the crew (be) ___ highly experienced.
- It added that safety limits (be) ___ approved before the display.
- Flightradar24 said its analysis (show) ___ the plane passed low.
- Some viewers said the manoeuvre (be) ___ reckless.
Discussion
- Should airlines do low-altitude displays over packed stadiums? Why?
- What safety rules would you require for a flypast like this?
- Does a display like this build national pride, or risk it? Explain.
- Are drones a safer option than planes for stadium shows? Why or why not?
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