Southwest pilot arrested after preflight sobriety fail

Savannah, Georgia travelers recall a January 15 pre-flight arrest of a Southwest pilot; new details highlight airline alcohol rules and what passengers should know. SAVANNAH, Ga. — Body-camera footage released this week has revived questions about cockpit sobriety checks after a Southwest Airlines captain was taken off a Savannah–Chicago flight in handcuffs earlier this year. The incident, which happened at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and delayed passengers already seated for takeoff, underscores how U.S. aviation regulators and individual carriers police alcohol use among flight crews.

What happened on Flight 3772

According to police and Transportation Security Administration reports reviewed by NBC News, veteran pilot David Allsop arrived for duty around 6 a.m. Jan. 15 to operate Southwest Flight 3772 from Savannah to Chicago Midway. A TSA agent who said he detected the odor of alcohol alerted airport officers, who met the aviator at the gate minutes before departure. Footage shows officers questioning Allsop about his previous night’s activities. Asked how much he had consumed, the captain replied that he had drunk “a few beers,” later specifying “three … Miller Lite,” the video records. After initial hesitation, he submitted to a field‐sobriety exam in a jet-bridge hallway. Police wrote that he “failed to maintain balance” and “swayed” while walking heel-to-toe. Allsop refused a subsequent blood test and was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving—or in this context, piloting—under the influence.

Southwest’s response

Passengers were escorted off the Boeing 737 and later rebooked with a new crew. “He was removed from duty immediately after the alleged incident and is no longer employed by Southwest Airlines,” the carrier said in a prepared statement. The airline, headquartered in Dallas, confirmed that it cooperates with federal and local authorities in such investigations. Allsop has pleaded not guilty. Defense attorney David Chaiken countered that officers misapplied field tests and that the video “confirms … Captain Allsop committed no crime,” Chaiken said in a prepared statement. A court date has not yet been scheduled.

How common are pilot alcohol violations?

Federal Aviation Administration data show that over the past decade fewer than five pilots a year have tested above the legal limit while on duty in the United States. Commercial aviators must observe an “eight-hour bottle-to-throttle” rule—technically 8 hours must elapse between drinking alcohol and reporting for duty. Carriers often extend that to 12 hours in their internal manuals. The maximum allowable blood-alcohol content for pilots is 0.04 percent, half the 0.08 percent threshold applied to motorists in many states.

Layers of enforcement

1. Pre-employment screening 2. Random FAA-mandated alcohol and drug tests 3. Company peer-reporting programs 4. TSA observations at crew checkpoints 5. Airport or local police intervention, as occurred in Savannah These overlapping safeguards make in-flight impairment extremely rare, aviation-safety analysts note. Still, the Savannah case illustrates that the system relies on human observation up until the cabin door closes.

Implications for travelers departing Savannah

Savannah/Hilton Head International handled more than 3 million passengers last year, many of whom are leisure travelers heading to Georgia’s coastal islands or returning from Hilton Head golf getaways. The arrest briefly stranded customers, but the episode also highlighted the benefit of boarding early; anomalies noticed before pushback can still be resolved without passengers spending additional hours on the tarmac.

Tips for Travelers

• Arrive at the gate on time. Crew changes are faster when everyone is present and counted.
• Check airline apps for real-time updates. Southwest issued mobile notifications when Flight 3772’s crew replacement was confirmed.
• Know your rights. Under the carrier’s customer-service plan, travelers delayed by crew issues can request meal vouchers on waits exceeding two hours.
• If you observe concerning behavior from any crew member, discreetly alert gate staff or a TSA officer.

The bigger picture on airline alcohol policy

Company rule books often exceed federal minimums. Southwest forbids alcohol within 12 hours of duty and reserves the right to require a breathalyzer if a supervisor has “reasonable suspicion.” Other major U.S. carriers maintain similar or stricter policies. Violations typically lead to termination and can trigger FAA certificate action, which may bar pilots from flying for any airline.

Crew Resource Management and peer accountability

Modern cockpit culture emphasizes mutual monitoring. If a first officer suspects the captain is impaired—or vice versa—protocol calls for immediate notification of company dispatch and chief pilots. The aim is to resolve issues before passengers board, although as the Savannah case shows, the system sometimes intersects with law enforcement at the gate.

What happens next in the Savannah case?

Allsop’s DUI charge will proceed in Chatham County State Court. Potential penalties include fines, probation, or jail time, but the larger professional consequence is revocation of pilot medical certification. Even if cleared criminally, he would need to satisfy FAA medical examiners that he meets “fitness for duty” standards before returning to any cockpit.

FAQ

Could your flight be canceled if a crew member fails an alcohol test?

Not necessarily. Airlines maintain reserve pilots who can be called in on short notice. Flight 3772 departed Savannah later that morning with a replacement crew, according to airport operations logs.

Do airlines have breathalyzers at every gate?

No. Tests are normally conducted in secured offices or by local police. Initial determinations are often behavioral—odor of alcohol, slurred speech, or unsteady gait—before formal testing equipment is used.

How early must pilots stop drinking?

FAA regulations require eight hours, but many airlines demand twelve. Some international operators impose even longer dry periods.

Has this happened before?

Yes, but rarely. A 2022 incident in Buffalo and a 2019 case in Minneapolis both led to arrests, yet neither event compromised passenger safety because the pilots were removed before departure.

Why travelers can remain confident

For most passengers, the chief takeaway is reassurance—not alarm. Multi-layered oversight by airlines, regulators, and airport security worked as designed in Savannah, catching a potential issue before the aircraft ever taxied. While the legal process runs its course, the traveling public can note that enforcement mechanisms, however inconvenient in the moment, ultimately serve to keep skies safe. — as Chaiken said in a prepared statement.