The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident that occurred Tuesday afternoon.

According to a report by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority police, passengers approached the pilot shortly before the flight, saying he "smelled and looked drunk," 10TV News reported.

SLIDESHOW: Images From Report | Surveillance Images From Port Columbus

The accused pilot, now on paid leave, is not being identified because he wasn't arrested and no charges have been filed.

Andy Maisner of Los Angeles was in Columbus on business preparing to board a flight to St. Louis. Maisner told 10TV News the pilot appeared intoxicated while passing through a security checkpoint.

"As we went through security, we told the TSA guy, 'Hey, that pilot smells like he's reeking of alcohol. He ought to be checked out,'" Maisner said.

Maisner and business colleague Chan Mahon followed the pilot down Concourse A and confronted the pilot.

"So we went up, and Chan said to the pilot, 'Hey, you just reek of alcohol, and if you've got a drinking problem, you shouldn't be flying this plane.'

"The guy just took off running. He didn't say, 'I haven't been drinking.' He just turned beet red and took off," Maisner said.

Airport police found the Chicago-based pilot in a nearby restroom, where he had removed his uniform jacket and hat, the report said.

The pilot told police that he called in sick for his flight to Orlando, which was departing at the gate next to the St. Louis-bound flight. He denied that he had been drinking, but he did tell officers that he "partied hard (the night before) at the hotel," the report said.

Maisner told 10TV News he doubts the pilot's explanation.

"It's possible he was partying the night before, but it was 4 o'clock in the afternoon when he finally came down," Maisner said. "I don't know. I don't buy it."

A new pilot assumed flight duties and the flight to Orlando departed on time.

According to the FAA, it is up to the airlines to test a pilot for drugs or alcohol. The FAA said that the pilot in question was not tested by Southwest Airlines, Hirsch reported.

Federal authorities said the pilot called off sick so any potential problems related to testing were avoided.

FAA regulations stipulate that no one can pilot an aircraft within eight hours of consuming alcohol or with a blood-alcohol content of 0.04 or higher.

The incident remains under investigation by Southwest Airlines and the FAA.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.

©2009 by 10TV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.