A pilot narrowly escaped a collision with another aircraft at 33,000ft after “showing off” off mid-flight to a boy in the cockpit, it was claimed yesterday.

Passengers on the Air France flight from Manchester to Paris on Saturday said that the aircraft “rocked and rolled” like a fairground ride before suddenly climbing 10,000ft to avoid crashing into another aircraft. Air France has begun an investigation.

Shaun Robinson, 40, a website manager from Lancashire, and one of the flight’s 143 passengers, said: “The pilot made a sharp turn to the left, without warning, and then back again, obviously showing the French boy how he flew his plane. I could see the boy. He shook hands with the pilot. He had a big smile on his face when he came out. Moments later the pilot threw his plane into a steep climb.

“We could hear alarms sounding. The two crew members sitting in front of me had terror written across their faces and were gripping their chairs.

“The pilot told us he was far too close to the plane in front, and air traffic control urgently asked him to climb, climb.” Mr Robinson said that he had spoken to other passengers, who agreed that “the pilot had been showing off”.

The airline said: “Air France takes these allegations extremely seriously. We are investigating.”

Times Recommends

• Minister in talks with Saudis to protect creditors
• Premier Inn hits back in £29-a-room row
• Bankers hit back at 'populist' bonus supertax