Police closed the motorway in both directions near East Midlands Airport to allow "a clear flight path" for the plane, which landed safely on Saturday.
Traffic was stopped between J23a and J24 at 21:30 GMT for about 20 minutes.
East Midlands Airport said the closure was "precautionary" after a Jet2 flight with 153 people on board alerted them to a suspected malfunction.
A spokeswoman for Jet2 said flight number LS670 called for assistance on its approach to the airport after the pilot noticed a "fault indication".
She said the flight landed safely before being inspected.
Highways England, which manages the motorway, tweeted to alert motorists to the "aircraft emergency" and motorway closure.
In 1989 a Belfast-bound British Midland flight crashed on the M1 near Kegworth, Leicestershire, killing 47 people, as it diverted to East Midlands Airport.

RMT members working for CalMac are preparing to hold a second 24-hour strike on Friday. Union members within Argyll Ferries are also to walk out.
Three days of industrial action by CalMac staff last month culminated in a 24-hour strike.
The dispute has been triggered by the tendering of Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.
Unions have concerns that the new contract will not protect jobs and pensions.
Following a meeting on Tuesday, CalMac said dialogue with the RMT remained "open" with the talks due to reconvene on Wednesday.
The RMT said that, as things stood, the 24-hour strike planned for Friday would go ahead.

The 335ft (100m) Victorian structure, which closed last year, is one of the UK's shortest piers.
Bryan Huxford, who co-owns Humberside Airport, said he would soon reopen the pier as a traditional entertainment venue.
The pier sold at auction in March but was put back on the market in May after the sale fell through.
Mr Huxford, who bought the pier for an undisclosed fee, said the venue would be "safeguarded for future community ownership".
"This has the potential to be very exciting and could create jobs, boost skills and give people across North East Lincolnshire a venue to really be proud of," he said.
"But we're not getting ahead of ourselves at this stage because we know the pier will only truly survive and thrive with the support of local people."
Crafts, conferences, weddings
A public consultation is expected to start next week to gauge interest in the project and decide on the pier's future use.
Mr Huxford said the pier would have a number of uses including tearooms, craft market, wedding receptions, conferences and a traditional dance and concert hall.
A steering group of seven business people has been set up to manage the pier while it recruits members of the public to create a community organisation.
Mr Huxford said the organisation would takeover the running of the pier "with the ultimate aim of buying the building."
Cleethorpes Pier, which was built at a cost of Â£8,000 and opened in 1873, has been empty since it closed last year and was previously used as a nightclub.
A section of the M1 was closed due to an "aircraft emergency" on a flight from Gran Canaria.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Further talks are due to take place between Caledonian MacBrayne and RMT on ferry workers' jobs and pensions.
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Cleethorpes Pier has been bought by a local businessman who intends to turn it into a community-run venue.