Get notified by email when this case is updated.
Written by: E. George
Published January 19, 2025 @ 3:45 PM ET
CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. – A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested this week for allegedly showing up for work intoxicated at a Georgia airport, causing delays to his Chicago-bound flight.
According to reports, the pilot, 52-year-old David Allsop, was detained at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on Wednesday after a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer noticed he appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol.
Southwest Airlines confirmed the pilot was removed from the cockpit and apologized to passengers affected by the flight delay.
Allsop was scheduled to fly Flight 3772 to Chicago, but the departure was delayed by several hours, from 6:05 a.m. to 10:56 a.m., while a replacement pilot was arranged.
The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office took Allsop into custody around 7 a.m. and charged him with DUI.
Before his arrest, Allsop had been pulled from the cockpit during his pre-flight checks. He was given a sobriety test on the jet bridge, which he failed, and was subsequently arrested after refusing a blood test, according to the incident report.
Allsop told officers he had consumed light beers the previous evening, but the report mentioned that the officer detected alcohol and observed bloodshot eyes. Additionally, during the sobriety test, the pilot struggled to maintain his balance and could not follow the officer’s pen with just his eyes, instead moving his head and neck.
Get notified by email when this case is updated.