A Southwest Airlines pilot was charged with DUI after police found him in the cockpit smelling of alcohol before a flight.
Savannah: A Southwest Airlines pilot got into some serious trouble just before takeoff. David Paul Allsop, 52, was charged with DUI after police found him in the cockpit.
It all started when a TSA agent noticed he smelled like alcohol and looked a bit off. They called the cops, who then entered the cockpit while Allsop was doing his pre-flight checks.
When the police arrived, they noticed he had bloodshot eyes and a flushed face. Allsop claimed he had just a few light beers the night before. But things didn’t go well for him; he failed a field sobriety test and chose not to take a blood test.
The flight to Chicago was delayed by nearly five hours because of this incident. Southwest Airlines quickly removed him from duty and apologized to passengers for the disruption.
Allsop was released after posting a $3,500 bond. This isn’t the first time a pilot has faced such charges; there have been similar cases in the past. It’s a reminder that safety is key in the skies.
