FLIGHT RISK

Southwest Pilot Removed From Cockpit and Arrested for DUI

He allegedly smelled of alcohol before he was detained, according to a report.

A Southwest Airlines flight was delayed several hours on Wednesday after police removed a pilot from the cockpit and later charged him with driving under the influence. Law enforcement at Georgia’s Savannah Hilton Head Airport detained David Paul Allsop, 52, as the Chicago-bound flight was preparing for takeoff. A source told CBS News he “allegedly smelled of alcohol and may have shown other signs of intoxication.” The flight departed at 10:56 a.m., nearly five hours after its scheduled time of 6:05 a.m., owing to Southwest having to search for a new, sober pilot. Jail records show Allsop, who is from New Hampshire, was released on bond after his bail was set at $3,500. “We’re aware of a situation involving an employee on Flight 3772 this morning from Savannah,” Southwest said in a statement. “The employee has been removed from duty.” Last year, a Delta pilot was sentenced to 10 months in prison in Scotland after he pleaded guilty to turning up to work with a blood alcohol limit twice the legal cap.