A Southwest Airlines pilot, identified as 52-year-old David Allsop from New Hampshire, was taken into custody at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on Wednesday morning for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol. The incident occurred just before Flight 3772, scheduled to depart for Chicago, was about to take off. The flight was subsequently delayed by nearly four hours.
Southwest Airlines has confirmed the incident and stated that Allsop has been relieved of his duties pending an internal investigation. Allsop's LinkedIn profile lists his occupation as a pilot. The airline worked to accommodate the affected passengers on alternative flights, apologizing for the disruption to their travel plans. Southwest emphasized its commitment to the safety of both its employees and customers.
While uncommon, this is not the first instance of a pilot facing such allegations. In a similar incident last year, a Japan Airlines flight from Dallas to Tokyo was canceled after concerns were raised about the pilot's alcohol consumption the previous night, even though the pilot hadn't technically violated the airline's internal regulations regarding alcohol consumption within 12 hours of a flight. Japan Airlines prioritized assessing the pilot's physical and mental condition, leading to the flight's cancellation.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident involving the Southwest pilot. This report incorporates contributions from Fox News Digital's Christina Coulter, David Lewkowict, and Chip Bell.
