First officer, Paul Grebenc was removed from the United Airlines flight at Glasgow airport in August last year.
Police were called to the terminal after staff smelled alcohol on the breath of Grebenc’s co-pilot, Carlos Roberto Licona, as he passed through security.
Grebenc, 35, from Texas, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Licona was jailed for 15 months on March 10 after he also admitted attempting to board the flight while drunk.
The court heard how on the morning of August 27 2016, Grebenc and his colleague were taken to Glasgow airport after spending the night at the Hilton Hotel in the city.
The pair were due to fly a Boeing 757 to Newark, New Jersey at 9am.
After moving through the staff search area, security staff smelled alcohol on Licona’s breath and contacted police – who later removed the duo at the departure gate.
Grebenc’s sample revealed he had 42 milligrams of alcohol in 100ml of blood – more than double the 20 milligrams limit for flying.
The flight, carrying 141 passengers, was delayed for nine hours.
Upon sentencing Grebenc, sheriff David Pender said: “I realise you have had several major difficulties in your personal life and this has had an impact on your consumption of alcohol.
“While you have not been a commercial pilot for very long, you have vast skill as a US Air Force pilot and you must be aware of the dangers of flying under the influence of alcohol.
“You also deliberately flouted your employer’s guidelines and ignored what they regard as a safe eight-hour gap between drinking alcohol and being on duty.”
David McKie, defending Grebenc, said: “He takes full responsibility for his actions.”
McKie told the court that the case would have “catastrophic consequences” for the pilot and could see him losing his pilot’s licence.
A United Airlines spokesman told BBC News: “We hold all of our employees to the highest standards. This pilot was immediately removed from service and his flying duties in August 2016.”
