Home Scandal and Gossip Southwest Airlines pilot arrested for being drunk moments before take off

Southwest Airlines pilot arrested for being drunk moments before take off

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David Allsop, Southwest Airlines pilot arrested on DUI.
David Allsop, Southwest Airlines pilot of Bedford, New Hampshire arrested after turning up to fly plane drunk.
David Allsop, Southwest Airlines pilot arrested on DUI.
David Allsop, Southwest Airlines pilot of Bedford, New Hampshire arrested after turning up to fly plane drunk.

David Allsop ,Southwest Airlines pilot arrest in Georgia shortly before domestic flight after turning up to fly plane intoxicated. Bedford, New Hampshire resident taken into custody after alcohol was smelt coming from his breath. 

A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested shortly before takeoff on Wednesday in Georgia after he allegedly showed up to work drunk, cops said. 

David Allsop, 52, of Bedford, New Hampshire, was arrested at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with driving under the influence.

Allsop was apprehended just before Southwest Flight 3772, bound for Chicago, was about to leave Georgia. It departed shortly before 11 a.m., nearly four hours after it was scheduled to takeoff.

FAA’s ‘Bottle to Throttle’ rule explained

Passengers onboard told TODAY that Allsop ‘was red in the face and that it appeared obvious that he had been up all night, he was tired, hadn’t slept.’ 

Authorities were notified of Allsop being under the influence when a TSA officer, ‘smelled alcohol on the pilot and informed law enforcement.’ 

TSA officers as part of their security training are informed on how to notice any potential impairment, particularly of vital flight crew.

As part of the FAA’s ‘Bottle to Throttle’ rule, pilots are prohibited from flying within 8 hours of the last drink or if they have a blood alcohol reading greater than 0.04%. The site advocates for a general 12-24 hours before pilots flying, particularly when hard liquor is involved. 

Southwest told FOX32 that it was looking into the incident and that Allsop, whose LinkedIn profile states that he is a pilot, has been ‘removed from duty.’

‘We’re aware of a situation involving an Employee on Flight 3772 this morning from Savannah,’ the airline said. ‘The employee has been removed from duty.’

Southwest also noted that the flight’s passengers were accommodated onto other flights while Flight 3772 remained grounded.

‘Customers were accommodated on other flights, and we apologize for the disruption to their travel plans,’ a spokesperson said. ‘There’s nothing more important to Southwest than the safety of our employees and customers.’

Reports confirm that Allsop has been released from jail after posting bond.

It remained unclear if the pilot would continue working with Southwest and what measures he would take to address his drinking problem.

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