'Drunk' United Airlines pilots bailed

Two American airline pilots, accused of being intoxicated as they prepared to fly from Scotland to the US, have been released on bail.

United Airlines planes Source: AP

Two American airline pilots have been released on bail and charged with being under the influence of alcohol as they prepared to fly a passenger jet from Scotland to the US.

Paul Brady Grebenc, 35, and Carlos Roberto Licona, 45, were held by police following the alleged incident at Glasgow Airport on Saturday.

The United Airlines flight to Newark, New Jersey, took off later that day with a new crew and 141 passengers on board.

On Monday, both men appeared in private at Paisley Sheriff Court, where they were charged under section 93 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, which covers alcohol limits in aviation.

That section of the Act states: ''A person commits an offence if he performs an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit, or he carries out an activity which is ancillary to an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit.''

Grebenc and Licona made no plea or declaration and were released on bail ahead of a further court date to be set.