A Southwest Airlines pilot was removed from duty and arrested for allegedly being intoxicated just before a scheduled flight from Savannah, Georgia, to Chicago on Wednesday. Authorities acted after noticing signs that raised concerns about the pilot’s fitness to fly, including the smell of alcohol.
According to sources, David Paul Allsop, who was scheduled to captain Southwest flight 3772 bound for Chicago’s Midway Airport, was removed from the cockpit by airport police in Savannah. The incident caused disruptions for passengers, but they were accommodated on other flights, the airline confirmed.
“The Employee has been removed from duty,” a Southwest Airlines spokesperson stated in response to the incident. “Customers were accommodated on other flights, and we apologize for the disruption to their travel plans. There’s nothing more important to Southwest than the safety of our Employees and Customers.”
Jail records revealed that Allsop was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and later released on a $3,500 bond.
Southwest has not shared additional details about the case but reiterated its commitment to passenger safety.
