Pilot Arrested for Being Drunk Just Before Southwest Airlines Flight Takeoff

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A Southwest Airlines pilot, David Paul Allsop, 52, was arrested just before his flight from Savannah to Chicago was ready to take off. The arrest happened early morning at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia. The pilot was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) after being found drunk at work.

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Reports said Mr. Allsop smelled of alcohol and showed clear signs of being drunk. According to safety rules, pilots cannot drink alcohol within eight hours before flying. They also cannot fly if their blood alcohol level is 0.04% or higher. Though his exact alcohol level was not shared, it was clear he was not safe to fly the plane.

Southwest Airlines said the pilot was taken off duty and they apologized to passengers for the delay. The flight, originally set to leave earlier in the morning, took off almost four hours late. The airline assured everyone that safety is their top priority.

This is not the first time a pilot has been arrested for being drunk. In June 2023, another pilot, Captain Lawrence Russell of Delta Airlines, was arrested at Edinburgh Airport before a flight to New York. He was found with two bottles of alcohol in his luggage, one of which was partly used. Tests showed his alcohol level was much higher than allowed. He later admitted to being drunk on duty and was sent to jail for 10 months.

These events show why it is so important to have strong safety rules for pilots. Airlines and authorities are working hard to prevent such dangerous situations in the future.

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