James McAvoy almost crashed a helicopter on his way to Sao Paulo.

The 'X-Men Days of Future Past' actor was travelling to the Brazilian city, where he was promoting the film, when the pilot invited him to take control of the aircraft and hold the joystick, but things wen't wrong.

Talking on 'The Daily Show' James recalled the experience, he said: ''I looked at him and thought he was joking. And then he took his hands off the joystick...''

Show host Jon Stewart joked: ''Are they difficult to fly, were you thinking this pilot is insane?''

James added: ''I did think the pilot was insane but I like that kind of crazy. So I was holding the joystick and was thinking this is doable, this was fine and then the slightest movement and then it would go shwwm......I think the pilot s**t himself and took back the controls. ''

As the 35-year-old star was flying out of the city, he found he was travelling with the same pilot and the ''brave'' man let him take control again.

He added: ''But two days later flying out of Sao Paulo, we had the same helicopter pilot, he's a very brave man, he let me do it again!''

'The Daily Show' airs tonight at 11pm on Comedy Central Extra.