Southwest Airlines Pilot Arrested for DUI Before Takeoff

On January 15, 2025, David Paul Allsop, a 52-year-old Southwest Airlines pilot, was arrested at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia on charges of driving under the influence (DUI).

The arrest occurred shortly before he was scheduled to captain Flight 3772 to Chicago Midway International Airport.

The incident unfolded when a Transportation Security Administration officer detected the smell of alcohol on Allsop during a routine security screening.

Subsequently, airport police removed him from the aircraft, leading to a nearly five-hour delay for passengers. Southwest Airlines promptly removed Allsop from duty and issued an apology to affected travelers, emphasizing that “there’s nothing more important to Southwest than the safety of our employees and customers.”

According to Federal Aviation Administration regulations, pilots are prohibited from consuming alcohol within eight hours of flying or operating an aircraft with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04% or higher.

Allsop was released on a $3,500 bond following his arrest.