This is the incredible moment two passenger jets, apparently flying straight at each other, appear to miss one another by a fraction of a second.

The footage, filmed by pilot Rogerio Mercaldi from his cockpit while traveling between Porto Seguro and Natal in Brazil, shows one jet seemingly heading directly towards him as it emerges from a cloud bank, contrails streaming behind it.

It apparently attempts to change course and slips under the other jet, seemingly passing below it.

However, it was later revealed that this was a special manoeuvre used by pilots to safely pass each other when forced into the same flight path.

Mercaldi explained that the two jets were, in fact, 1,000ft apart and well within air safety regulations.

As the planes approach one another, they adjust their flight angles slightly to reduce the effects of transverse turbulence.

Mercaldi pointed out that while his plane was flying at 39,000ft, the other jet was at 38,000ft.

He added: 'The passengers and the pilot do not feel that we are flying side-to-side.

'In fact, it seems like it's a big angle, that it's very crooked, but it's not. It's nothing we physically perceive it to be.

'The pilot flies crooked but maintains a straight trajectory. Boats do the same thing.'