MUST WATCH VIDEO: German officials question Air Berlin pilot's airport fly-by

German air safety officials say they've asked bankrupt carrier Air Berlin to explain why one of its pilots aborted his landing at Duesseldorf Airport at the last moment to make a low pass around the control tower.

An Air Berlin flight was returning to Germany from Miami early Monday with 200 people on board when the unidentified pilot performed the pass. Several witnesses captured the Airbus A330 on video.

The pilot has been suspended.

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 maneuver and the reason for it needs to be clarified."

The Air Berlin flight was arriving for a routine landing. Instead, it made a hard left turn toward the control tower amid screaming inside the terminal.

There was applause in the control tower, and officials inside approved' the maneuver.

The control tower approved the stunt because it was meant to honor the final long-haul flight for the bankrupt airline.

Air Berlin didn't respond to calls. The airline ceases operating at the end of October.

Associated Press