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A pilot is being investigated for a dangerous airport stunt which made screaming witnesses think it was about to crash.

The final long-distance flight by bankrupt airline Air Berlin was coming in to land when it performed the maneuver at Dusseldorf Airport with 200 passengers onboard.

The Airbus A330 plane carried out an honorary flyover, turning on its side and flying worryingly close to the airport terminal.

In a video shot from the ground, a woman can be heard saying: "What is he doing?"

Flight AB7001 from Miami to Germany looked like it was about to land when it picked up speed and elevation, showing off its wings one last time.

(Image: CEN/Youtube) (Image: CEN/Youtube)

The plane then makes a sharp left turn towards the terminal building, with the people on the outside terrace screaming out in fear.

An airport employee who watched the dramatic scenes unfold thought at first the aeroplane would crash right into the terminal.

She said: "It was a strange feeling when the A330 came right at us, as we did not know before that it would do a honorary lap."

The federal aviation authority (LBA) is set to investigate, The Local reports.

However another video, shot from the control tower of Dusseldorf Airport, clearly shows that it was a perfectly orchestrated move and that at no point anyone at the airport was in danger.

(Image: CEN/Youtube) (Image: CEN/Youtube)

People in the tower are heard clapping when the aeroplane arrives, as the voice of the captain is heard saying in German that Air Berlin will "cease it long-distance flights tomorrow".

He is then heard thanking the traffic controllers for the many years they worked together.

Before the plane's departure in Miami, the airport fire brigade gave a water cannon salute as a last goodbye.

The airline will still continue to operate flights to European destinations for the time being.

On August 15, Air Berlin stated it was filing for insolvency, although most flights continued until further notice after the German government provided the airline with a loan.

On October 9, the airline however announced that it would cease all of its own operations by October 28.

Air Berlin was Germany's second biggest airline after Lufthansa and took part in the Oneworld airline alliance spearheaded by British Airways.

The total deficit of Air Berlin over 2016 was a staggering £707.5 million.