Southwest Airlines Pilot Arrested for DUI Before Flight

Pilot Arrested for Suspected Alcohol Impairment

• ✈️ A Southwest Airlines pilot, Captain David Allsop, was arrested after allegedly smelling of alcohol before a flight.
• 👮 A TSA agent reported the odor at Savannah airport in Georgia, leading to police involvement.
• ✈️ Allsop was ordered out of the cockpit minutes before takeoff for Chicago, with passengers already on board.

Field Sobriety Test and Consequences

• 🧪 The pilot underwent a field sobriety test on the jet bridge, which he was told he failed.
• ⚖️ Police cited the signs exhibited during the tests and the odor of alcohol as consistent with DUI.
• 📉 Allsop was placed in handcuffs, ending a 19-year career, and subsequently lost his pilot's license and job.

Alcohol Abuse in Aviation

• ⚠️ The incident highlights concerns about alcohol abuse among pilots.
• 🧠 Pilots may be reluctant to seek help for issues like alcoholism due to fears of career damage.
• 🚨 If prosecuted, the pilot may face federal charges.