German pilot's final gesture could land airline in trouble

A grand farewell gesture by an Air Berlin pilot during the bankrupt airline’s final flight could land the carrier in hot water with German safety officials.

An Air Berlin flight was returning to Germany from Miami early Monday when one of its pilots aborted the landing at Duesseldorf Airport at the last moment to make a low pass around the control tower.

An Air Berlin spokesperson confirmed to RT that the move was a “lap of honour” to mark the airline’s last international flight.

Officials say they've asked the bankrupt carrier to explain the move and are investigating if it put anyone in danger.

Several witnesses captured the Airbus A330’s gesture on video and uploaded the footage to YouTube.

In the video, aviation enthusiasts are watching the plane coming in to land.

“It’s too high, it’s too high,” one person can be heard gasping.

The jet, carrying 200 passengers, then swoops over the runway before heading back up into the sky.

A Federal Aviation Office spokesman said Tuesday that it is not unusual for pilots to abort landings when necessary.

But Stefan Commessmann told The Associated Press that the Air Berlin pilot's action "differs from the usual manoeuvre and the reason for it needs to be clarified".

The airline ceases operating at the end of October.

With AP.