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A hearing for two airline pilots who were arrested Sept. 26 after one of them allegedly "mooned" northbound traffic on Alcoa Highway was again reset to 9 a.m. Jan. 15.

Jeffrey Leon Saltis, 43, Pittsburgh, Pa., was accused of pulling his shorts down and mooning northbound traffic on Alcoa Highway while under the influence of an intoxicant. He was charged by Alcoa police officers with public intoxication and indecent exposure.

Michael Cody Etzel, 25, Richmond, Va., was charged with public intoxication following the incident.

Neither defendant appeared at the hearing on Thursday, but their attorneys appeared on their behalf. Etzel is being represented by Jonathan D. Cooper, and Saltis is being represented by Joe Costner.

"The state and defense have agreed to reset those cases to Jan. 15 at 9 o'clock," Judge William R. Brewer announced during court.

Both men are employees for United Express, affiliated with Trans States Airlines. A spokesman for Trans States Airlines confirmed after the arrests that two employees, who are pilots, were suspended from flight status following the incident. Cooper said Monday that Etzel had been suspended but there had not been "final termination."

According to earlier reports from the Alcoa Police Department, officers responded to a call of an intoxicated subject at El Sazon Mexicano Restaurant, 2650 Alcoa Highway, at 6:31 p.m. Sept. 26.

Dispatchers told officers that a man became irate with the restaurant's manager after employees refused to serve him more alcohol. The suspect was also accused of attempting to start a physical confrontation with management and employees.

Officer Dustin Cook said he approached the area and saw Saltis pulling his shorts down and mooning northbound traffic on Alcoa Highway. Officers reported that they saw Etzel walking with a female in front of Applebee's and the female was attempting to take a picture of Saltis as he mooned traffic.

Officers reported that Saltis became "irate and verbally abusive with officers" following the incident. They said that Saltis told them that he had an early morning flight and he hoped they were happy because "50 people's flight would be delayed because of (Officer Cook)."

Both men were arrested and officers notified United Expresss of the situation.