EXCLUSIVE

Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura in the '60s TV version of "Star Trek," did better on spaceships than planes because her travelling companion was busted at LAX after meth fell out of his suitcase ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We've learned the 81-year-old actress was with a male companion in his 20's at the American Airlines terminal. We're told he had attached his luggage to hers and her name tags were on his bags.

Here's the rub: Law enforcement sources tell us, his suitcase fell to the ground, opened and a bag of meth and drug scales spilled out.

The guy was arrested for drug possession. The unsuspecting Nichols was in the clear and allowed to make her flight.