Recently released body camera footage reveals the moment a Southwest Airlines pilot was removed from the cockpit after failing a sobriety test at a Georgia airport earlier this year.
David Paul Allsapp, 52, was preparing for takeoff from Savannah Hilton Head Airport at 7 a.m. on January 15 when two officers confronted him about his drinking, as reported by a local news source.
The video shows Allsapp, a resident of New Hampshire, stepping out of the cabin on Southwest Flight 3772, facing two officers who suspected him of being intoxicated.
“When was your last drink?” the police officer asked, his body cam rolling.
Allsapp quickly answered, “Last night,” while averting his gaze from the officers.
“How many hours ago?” came the follow-up question.
“About 10 hours ago,” he responded, somewhat poorly.
Ignoring the officers’ request for a field sobriety test, Allsapp shrugged and stated, “No need.” The officer replied that he could smell alcohol, which visibly agitated the pilot.
At one point, Allsapp appeared to attempt to wipe his lips, but the effort resulted in what looked like a breath mint falling from his mouth.
The footage continues to show Allsapp struggling to walk in a straight line on the Jet Bridge, further confirming the suspicions about his ability to fly safely.
Ultimately, he was accused of driving under the influence and was prevented from taking off that day.
A profile of Allsapp on a professional networking site indicates that he remains employed by the airline.
Following the incident, Southwest Flight 3772 took off after a delay of four hours, once the airline found a replacement pilot.
In a statement at the time, Southwest Airlines emphasized that the safety of employees and customers is their top priority.
As of now, Southwest has not provided any additional comments regarding the situation.
