A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport for allegedly driving under the influence, authorities confirmed.
David Allsop, 52, of New Hampshire, was taken into custody Wednesday morning. The incident reportedly delayed Flight 3772 to Chicago by several hours.
A source told CBS News that Allsop smelled of alcohol and was subsequently removed from the flight.
Allsop is facing DUI charges and was released on a $3,500 bond, according to Chatham County Sheriff’s Office jail records.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Southwest Airlines said the employee “has been removed from duty.”
“We’re aware of a situation involving an employee on Flight 3772 from Savannah,” a spokesperson said. “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.”
Flight 3772 eventually landed in Chicago nearly five hours late, according to FlightAware.
In a similar case in 2023, a United Airlines pilot received a six-month suspended prison sentence for reporting to work intoxicated before a flight from Paris to Washington, D.C.
USAToday
