Air France has denied reports that one of its pilots had a near-collision during a flight from Manchester to Paris after showing off his flight skills to a young passenger.

British media quoted passengers on the flight as saying the plane started rocking and rolling as it was about to land at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, and suddenly climbed sharply to avoid crashing into the aircraft in front.

One passenger was quoted in The Times as saying he saw the pilot shake hands with a French boy in the cockpit, and that he appeared to be giving him a flight demonstration.

"Air France confirms that the crew of the flight linking Manchester to Paris-Charles de Gaulle interrupted its descent on Saturday as it was about to land," the company said.

It said the manoeuvre was requested by air traffic controllers because of insufficient space between the two flights, and was "a very simple and normal manoeuvre for a pilot.

"Air France wishes to clarify that, contrary to what has been reported in the press, no passenger was in the cockpit either during the landing phase or the interruption of the approach."

AFP