'Puddle of Mudd' Singer CHARGES DROPPED from JetBlue Arrest

"Puddle of Mudd" singer Wes Scantlin just dodged a stint in prison because charges against him for an alleged drunken brawl on a JetBlue flight ... have been dropped!

TMZ broke the story ... Scantlin was arrested in Austin, TX back in September, after he allegedly got into a booze-fueled argument with a flight attendant. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing and Scantlin was charged with public intoxication.

Scantlin was adamant he did nothing wrong -- and earlier this week he was vindicated when a judge dismissed the charges due to "insufficient evidence".

Scantlin struck a plea deal for cocaine possession in July -- and was ordered to obey all laws for 18 months ... or he could face a prison sentence.

Calls to Scantlin's people weren't returned.

JetBlue to Passengers Here's $50 for Babysitting Puddle of Mudd

Passengers on board the JetBlue flight that made an emergency landing in Texas this week -- because the singer for Puddle of Mudd allegedly threw a boozy mid-flight temper tantrum -- are receiving a paltry $50 apology from the airline, TMZ has learned.

As we first reported, a JetBlue flight bound for L.A. made an emergency landing in Austin, TX Tuesday after Wes Scantlin allegedly got in a heated drunken argument with a flight attendant.

The plane was grounded in Austin for more than an hour as a result -- but a rep for JetBlue tells us, the passengers were compensated for their time ... with a $50 JetBlue credit.

According to the rep, if any customer experiences an onboard ground delay between 1 and 2 hours ... he or she is entitled to a $50 JetBlue voucher.

And as everyone knows, $50 is good for a trip to nowhere.

So we gotta ask ...

Puddle of Mudd Singer The Post-Flight Mug Shot

With bloodshot eyes and a half-cocked smile, Puddle of Mudd singer Wes Scantlin posed for the cop cam yesterday after he was arrested for being a disruptive drunken idiot on a flight.

TMZ broke the story, a JetBlue flight bound for L.A. made an emergency landing in Austin, TX yesterday after Scantlin allegedly got in a heated drunken argument with a flight attendant.

Once the plane touched down, Wes was arrested for public intoxication -- but he could also face prison time for interfering with a flight crew ... a federal crime.

Scantlin is due in court in Austin on October 3rd, when he's scheduled to be arraigned.

We also got video of Wes getting cuffed on the plane -- it's pretty wild.

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Puddle of Mudd Singer Arrested EMERGENCY LANDING After Fight on Flight

Puddle of Mudd singer Wes Scantlin was just arrested at an Austin, TX airport for allegedly becoming drunkenly combative with a flight attendant while in the air -- a rep for the Austin PD tells TMZ.

According to the Austin PD, Scantlin got into a verbal argument with a flight attendant over alcohol. It's unclear exactly what provoked the argument, but a source with airport security says Scantlin was upset because the flight crew wouldn't sell him booze.

Scantlin's flight was originally bound for L.A. but was re-routed to Bergstrom International Airport in Austin for an emergency stop, where Scantlin was booted from the plane.

A rep for the Austin PD tells us, Scantlin was arrested and booked for public intoxication, but he could also later face federal charges of interfering with a flight crew.

FYI -- Scantlin pled "guilty" to felony cocaine possession in July, but the judge agreed to clear his record in 18 months so long as Scantlin obeys all laws ... a condition Scantlin may just have violated.

Bottom line -- if Scantlin actually did cause a mid-air ruckus he could face prison time for the cocaine charge, as well as for public intoxication and interfering with a flight crew.