The skies over Johannesburg will remain blissfully free of low-flying commercial jets this weekend, as Airlink - the South African airline behind last week's headline-grabbing stadium stunt - has pulled the plug on its planned encore. The airline withdrew its application for the flyby before Saturday's rugby clash between South Africa and New Zealand at FNB Stadium, blaming a 'poor weather forecast.'

Last weekend's display, which saw two planes roar in close formation over a packed DHL Stadium in Cape Town, divided opinion faster than a rugby scrum. Some called it reckless; others hailed the pilots' precision and expertise. Flight tracking website Flightradar24, never one to miss a dramatic stat, calculated that the lead aircraft passed less than 50ft (15m) above the stadium roof - close enough to rattle the floodlights, apparently.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) had approved the original flyby but, after 'discussions in the media' (read: the internet collectively gasped), it announced on Wednesday it would review the operation. The regulator said it had initiated compliance verifications, engaged the operator, and obtained flight data recordings - plus, it revealed, a flight simulator was used to practice for the Saturday flight, because nothing says 'safety first' like practicing on a Playstation.

In a separate statement, Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht confirmed the upcoming display was off, citing 'unfavourable conditions for a safe formation flyby.' He insisted last weekend's flights were performed with 'approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits' by a 'highly experienced crew.' The airline, perhaps sensing it had inadvertently become the story, volunteered its flight data recordings following 'unprecedented public interest.'

'We never intended to become the news or upstage Rugby's Greatest Rivalry,' Engelbrecht added, in what we assume was a straight face. The flyby has been a staple at major South African sporting and presidential events for years, using both military jets and commercial airlines - so this isn't their first rodeo. But with the regulator now sniffing around and the weather not cooperating, Airlink has decided to let the rugby do the talking this weekend. Ground control to Major Tom: maybe stick to the sky-high fees.