Airline Eyeing 'Show Off' Pilot Who Avoided Near Miss

Manchester, UK (AHN) - Air France is investigating a pilot who narrowly avoided a near miss at 33,000 feet after allegedly "showing off" his control of the aircraft to a boy in the cockpit.

"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," passenger Shaun Robinson told the Times of London. "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."

Robinson was one of 143 passengers on board the Manchester to Paris flight.

The passenger added, "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."

The airline told the Times: "Air France takes these allegations extremely seriously. We are investigating."