By RAY MASSEY

Last updated at 08:03 07 May 2008

A pilot showing off to a young boy in his cockpit ended up almost crashing the airliner, it was claimed yesterday

Passengers said the pilot deliberately rocked the jet from side to side as he showed the child how the controls worked.

Moments later, however, he was forced to throw the Air France plane into a steep climb to get out of the way of another aircraft.

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Terrifying: Air France has launched an investigation after passengers claim their pilot was 'showing off' in front of a child and then had to dodge another jet

Witnesses said terrified passengers blessed themselves and said prayers aloud as the plane soared 10,000ft.

Air France has launched an investigation into both the boy's cabin visit and the apparent near miss which followed.

The drama happened on an Airbus A320 which was carrying 143 passengers to Paris from Manchester on Saturday morning.

Passenger Shaun Robinson, 40, boss of travel website www.holidayinsider.com, from Rossendale, Lancashire, said the pilot had 'clearly been showing off' to the boy, who was about 13.

"I was horrified by what I saw," he said. "The pilot made a sharp turn to the left, without warning, and then back again, obviously showing the young French boy how he flew his plane.

"I could see the boy. He shook hands with the pilots.

"He gave us the impression he knew the cabin crew and the people on the flight deck. We assumed he was something to do with the pilot. He had a big smile on his face when he came out and the steward ruffled his hair and took him back to his seat."

Horrified: Passenger Shaun Robinson

Moments later, however, there was an emergency as passengers said they heard alarm noises coming from the cockpit.

Mr Robinson said: "The pilot threw his plane into a steep climb. The two crew members sitting in front of me had terror written across their faces and were gripping their chairs.

"When it was all over, the pilot said we had climbed 10,000ft.

"He said air traffic control had come on the radio and said 'climb, climb, climb 10,000ft, you are going to hit a plane'. It was terrifying. People were blessing themselves. Clearly something happened. Perhaps the pilot lost concentration and took his eye off the ball."

The plane landed safely at Paris Charles De Gaulle airport about 20 minutes late.

Mr Robinson, who has made a complaint to Air France, added: "The young boy shouldn't have been allowed into the cockpit in the first place. It was reckless."

Another passenger, from Manchester, who declined to be named, said: "They took the kid in there and they're not supposed to since 9/11. It was a shock to see that first of all.

"Within a minute there was the first swerve. It swerved to the left and then it corrected.

"Within a couple of minutes of the kid leaving the cockpit, the pilot said he was coming in to land.

"Suddenly the engines started revving and we shot back up into the air.

"The pilot was putting people's lives at risk."

A spokesman for Air France said it was taking the allegations 'extremely seriously' and was investigating.

Visits to the cockpit are banned in the UK. "I can't imagine it would be any different in France," said a Transport Department official.