The airliner, carrying 28 passengers, was coming into Manchester airport using an automatic system when the crew noticed a problem with the controls.

They realised the glitch was probably being caused by someone using electronic equipment.

The problem was then traced to a woman with a mobile phone who was asked to switch it off.

People are not supposed to use electronic devices on landing or take off because they can affect automatic landing systems

CAA spokeswoman

The pilot then managed to land the Brazilian-made Embraer 145 jet safely.

The incident, which occurred on a foreign airline that has not been named, is believed to be the first of its kind recorded in the UK.

A spokeswoman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the jet was using a Instrument Landing System (ILS) as it approached Manchester airport in April.

She said: "The report told us that as the aircraft was coming into land the crew felt some wavering on the controls.

"The only things that could have caused it were interference from an electronic device or the possibility that the equipment had been set incorrectly.

"They asked the passenger to stop using the device and there were no further problems.

"People are not supposed to use electronic devices on landing or take off because they can affect automatic landing systems."

Large airports, such as Manchester and Heathrow, have a ILS which allows pilots to set a course for landing and the plane is guided down automatically.