Bam spent several hours in a holding cell at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Sunday after airline employees refused to let him on his flight ... because he reeked of booze and was cussing like a sailor ... this according to the incident report.

Officials say ... Bam got loud and combative... and cussed even more ... so law enforcement was called in, handcuffed Margera and immediately removed him from the area.

TMZ spoke with Bam ... who admits he was loud and obnoxious ... but insists he was NOT drunk at the time. Bam says the alcoholic odor was merely "left over" from a bender the night before.