Southwest Pilot Arrested for DUI Before Flight: Bodycam Footage Released

Pilot Arrested for Suspected DUI

• ✈️ A Southwest Airlines pilot, Captain David Allsop, was removed from a plane in Savannah before takeoff due to suspected alcohol impairment.
• 👮 Officers responded after a report of a pilot smelling strongly of alcohol during a crew member check-in.
• 🍺 Allsop admitted to having "a few beers" the night before, but defined it vaguely as "light beer."

Field Sobriety Tests and Refusal

• 🧪 Officers conducted field sobriety tests on the jet bridge, including following a pen with his eyes and a heel-toe walk.
• ⚠️ Allsop reportedly failed to follow the pen with his eyes, had trouble maintaining balance, and swayed while walking.
• 🩸 He refused to provide a blood sample to test his blood alcohol content, which officers stated would be considered DUI less safe.

Career and Legal Consequences

• 📉 The incident led to the pilot's termination from Southwest Airlines.
• 🚫 He also lost his FAA license.
• ⚖️ Criminal charges for operating an aircraft while intoxicated are pending, with potential federal implications.

Airline and FAA Involvement

• ✈️ Southwest Airlines' drug and alcohol team was involved to conduct their own observation and testing.
• 🚨 The FAA and DOT regulations mandate strict adherence to alcohol and drug policies for flight crew.
• 🤝 While officers detained the pilot, there was a brief discussion about jurisdiction between airport police and the airline's internal team.