Bodycam Footage Reveals Southwest Airlines Pilot’s DUI Arrest Before Chicago Flight at Georgia’s Savannah Hilton Head Airport

CHICAGO (WLS) — Recently released body-camera footage reveals the arrest and removal of a Southwest Airlines pilot from the cockpit at a Georgia airport earlier this year.

Pilot David Paul Allsop was taken into custody on January 15 at Savannah Hilton Head Airport after reportedly not passing a sobriety test prior to a scheduled flight to Chicago, according to police reports.

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The police documents indicate that a TSA agent noted a crew member who seemed to be under the influence, leading to Allsop’s ejection from the cockpit. Allsop explained to police that any odor was due to the nicotine gum he was chewing.

Allsop allegedly failed a sobriety test on the jet bridge and was charged with driving under the influence, according to the arrest report.

The arrest happened with passengers already on board.

The flight set for Chicago with Allsop as the pilot experienced several hours of delay while Southwest Airlines sought a replacement pilot, officials stated.

“We’re aware of a situation involving an Employee on Flight 3772 this morning from Savannah,” Southwest Airlines commented in a statement. “The Employee has been relieved of duty. We managed to rebook Customers on different flights, and we regret any inconvenience this caused to their plans. Ensuring the Safety of our Employees and Customers is Southwest’s top priority.”