Authorities have shared footage of Southwest Airlines pilots who failed sobriety tests shortly before a flight in January.
David Allsap, 52, from New Hampshire, was taken into custody at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport around 7 a.m. on January 7, as stated by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.
Bodycam footage shows officers questioning Allsap after reports surfaced that he might have been impaired just before Southwest Flight 3772 was set to depart for Chicago via Georgia. The pilot acknowledged having “some beers” approximately ten hours prior, prompting officers to probe further.
Passengers were forced to disembark, and some were arrested due to alcohol-induced disturbances and reckless conduct.
The officer noticed a strong smell of alcohol and asked Allsap to undergo a field sobriety test, but he initially resisted, claiming it was unnecessary. “Some beers,” he repeated. When pressed for clarity, he mentioned he had consumed “like three” light beers, specifically Mirror Light.
Eventually, Allsap relented, but footage revealed that he struggled to walk straight, leading authorities to conclude he was still intoxicated.
In a separate incident, a passenger became alarmed and jumped from their seat during a dramatic maneuver by the Southwest flight to avoid a mid-air collision.
Allsap’s arrest delayed the flight by four hours, and passengers who were scheduled to depart at 11 a.m. were either rebooked or provided accommodations on other flights, according to Southwest Airlines.
In past comments to Fox News Digital, Southwest mentioned that Allsap was “excluded from the obligation,” adding that affected customers were provided alternative arrangements and that they apologized for the confusion. Safety remains a top priority for Southwest Airlines.
The Federal Aviation Administration enforces strict rules, prohibiting pilots from consuming alcohol within eight hours of a flight and mandating that blood alcohol content (BAC) should be below 0.04%.
