A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested shortly before takeoff on Wednesday in Georgia after he allegedly showed up to work intoxicated, police say.
David Allsop, a 52-year-old resident of New Hampshire, was taken into custody at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport around 7 a.m. on Wednesday for driving under the influence, reported by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.
Prior to Southwest Flight 3772 heading to Chicago, Allsop was detained. The flight eventually departed Georgia nearly four hours behind schedule, taking off shortly before 11 a.m.
According to Southwest’s statement to Fox News Digital, an investigation into the matter is ongoing. Allsop, who is identified as a pilot on his LinkedIn profile, has been suspended from his duties following the incident.
David Allsop was arrested on Wednesday morning, Georgia authorities say. (Chatham County Sheriff’s Office)
It is rare, but not unheard of, for a pilot to be arrested or apprehended for excessively drinking before a flight. Last May, Japan Airlines grounded a flight from Dallas to Tokyo after it was discovered that a pilot drank excessively the night before.
Although the pilot did not violate the internal guidelines against drinking within 12 hours of departure, Japan Airlines canceled the flight in order to “assess the captain’s physical and mental well-being.”
A Southwest Airlines passenger jet lands at Chicago Midway International Airport. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
Authorities are actively investigating the incident.
Fox News Digital’s Christina Coulter, David Lewkowict and Chip Bell contributed to this report.
