An airline pilot has admitted preparing to fly a passenger jet while more than twice the legal alcohol limit.

Paul Grebenc, 35, was due to fly as first officer on a United Airlines flight from Glasgow Airport to Newark, New Jersey, on August 27 last year when concerns were raised about his fitness to fly.

A blood test carried out later that day found he had 42 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, more than twice the legal limit of 20mcg.

Grebenc, a former US Air Force pilot who is still a reservist, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court on Thursday.