A Southwest Airlines pilot was removed from duty and arrested just moments before he was scheduled to fly a commercial jet from Georgia to Chicago, after failing a sobriety test on the tarmac.
The pilot, 52-year-old David Allsop of New Hampshire, was taken into custody at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on the morning of January 7.
According to police reports and newly released body camera footage, officers were called after receiving a tip that a pilot preparing to fly Southwest Flight 3772 may have been under the influence of alcohol.
The footage shows officers approaching Allsop near the aircraft. During questioning, the pilot admitted he had consumed “a few beers” the night before. Officers quickly pressed for clarification.
“Define a few beers,” an officer asked.
“Like three,” Allsop responded, adding that it was “light beer, Miller Lite.”
But the officers weren’t convinced. They said they smelled alcohol and noticed signs of possible intoxication. They asked Allsop to take a field sobriety test. He hesitated at first, saying there was “no need.”
Eventually, he agreed.
The video shows Allsop attempting to walk a straight line as part of the standard sobriety check. After evaluating his performance, officers determined he was not fit to fly.
He was arrested on the spot.
The incident caused a four-hour delay for passengers on Flight 3772. Some were rebooked on other flights, while others waited until the plane departed later that morning at 11 a.m.
Southwest Airlines confirmed that Allsop was “removed from duty” and issued a statement shortly after the event.
“There’s nothing more important to Southwest than the safety of our employees and customers,” the airline said. “We apologize for the disruption to their travel plans.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has clear rules when it comes to alcohol use. Pilots are not allowed to drink within eight hours of a flight. Their blood alcohol content must also be under 0.04%.
Allsop told officers he had last consumed alcohol around 10 hours before arriving for duty. But even that timeline is considered risky under FAA guidelines, especially if any effects linger.
The video, which was released by Savannah Airport Police, adds a new layer to the story. The footage shows Allsop calm but unsure of his footing, answering questions but showing signs of concern.
Newly released body camera video shows the arrest of a Southwest Airlines pilot accused of attempting to fly intoxicated at a Savannah airport in January. Police say the pilot failed multiple sobriety tests and declined a blood test. @jayobtv reports. ABC News – Breaking News, Latest News and Videos World News Tonight on Twitter / X
— World News Tonight (@abcworldnews ) August 15, 2025
This incident is raising new questions about how pilots are monitored before flights, and what more can be done to ensure safety for passengers.
No passengers were harmed, and the flight eventually reached its destination safely with a different pilot.
The FAA has not said whether Allsop will face further penalties, but cases like this often lead to suspension or revocation of a pilot’s license, depending on the outcome of investigations and legal proceedings.
For now, what happened on that January morning is a reminder of how much trust passengers place in pilots—and how seriously that trust must be protected.
