Drunk Southwest Captain Was Removed From Flight and Arrested | Pilot Reacts
1,573Full body cam video: • Bodycam: Drunk Southwest Pilot Pulled From...
Captured on bodycam during a tense January morning, this video documents the sobering moment a Southwest Airlines pilot, identified as David Paul Allsop (52), was removed from his flight just before takeoff. Scheduled to operate Flight 3772 from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport to Chicago Midway, the flight was delayed nearly five hours following his arrest for DUI.
What unfolds in the footage:
A TSA agent alerted airport police after detecting alcohol on the pilot’s breath during pre-flight crew screening.
The pilot, exhibiting bloodshot, watery eyes and a flushed complexion, admitted to having “a few light beers” the previous night.
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Asked to take a field sobriety test, he initially resisted but ultimately complied—and failed, showing signs of impaired balance and coordination.
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A blood-alcohol test was declined. He was subsequently arrested on DUI charges, released on a $3,500 bond, and his pilot certification was revoked.
The incident caused major flight delays, with passengers rebooked or accommodated on alternate flights. Southwest Airlines emphasized safety, removed the pilot from duty, and apologized for the disruption.
Reports note parallel incidents involving other airline pilots in recent years, underscoring ongoing concerns over alcohol policies.