Southwest Pilot Caught Intoxicated on Duty
On the morning of January 15 at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Southwest Airlines captain David Paul Allsop (52), assigned to Flight 3772 bound for Chicago, was removed from the cockpit by police officers and subjected to an alcohol test.
According to bodycam footage, the pilot, whose eyes appeared bloodshot, raised suspicion due to the smell of alcohol. Initially refusing to take a field sobriety test, Allsop agreed after police insisted but failed the test. The footage also showed him struggling to walk in a straight line in the jet bridge.
In his statement, Allsop said, “My last drink was last night, about 10 hours ago.” Police also noted that a mint fell out of his mouth while speaking. Following the incident, the pilot was taken into custody on charges of “driving under the influence” (DUI).
Southwest Airlines emphasized that safety would not be compromised, and the flight was carried out with a replacement pilot after a delay of about four hours.
Although the incident occurred in January, it has only recently come to light, with footage and detailed reports released to the public in recent days.
