A Southwest Airlines Pilot Arrested for Allegedly Showing Up to Work Drunk
A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on Wednesday morning after allegedly showing up to work intoxicated. David Allsop, 52, a resident of New Hampshire, was taken into custody by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office at around 7 a.m. and charged with driving under the influence.
The incident occurred just before Southwest Flight 3772, bound for Chicago, was set to depart. However, the flight was grounded, and passengers were accommodated on other flights.
According to a statement from Southwest Airlines, Allsop has been “removed from duty,” and the airline is investigating the incident. The safety of employees and customers is the airline’s top priority, according to a spokesperson.
This is not the first time a pilot has been arrested for excessive drinking before a flight. In May, a Japan Airlines pilot was grounded after it was discovered that he had drunk excessively the night before a flight from Dallas to Tokyo. While the pilot did not violate the airline’s guidelines against drinking within 12 hours of departure, the flight was cancelled to assess the captain’s physical and mental well-being.
The incident is under investigation, and authorities have not yet released further details.
