Police Footage Shows Southwest Pilot Failed Sobriety Test at Georgia Airport

Bodycam footage released publicly captures the moment a Southwest Airlines pilot was removed from his cockpit and detained shortly before departure at Savannah Hilton Head Airport. The pilot, identified as David Paul Allsop, 52, appeared visibly intoxicated when officers approached him at around 7 a.m. on January 15, moments before his flight to Chicago was scheduled to leave.

The video shows Allsop initially refusing a field sobriety test, claiming there was no need. An officer detected the smell of alcohol on him, prompting further investigation. Allsop then attempted to wipe his lips, and a breath mint fell from his mouth as he fumbled to retrieve it. When asked about his last drink, he admitted to having had alcohol the previous night, roughly ten hours earlier.

Subsequently, Allsop consented to a sobriety test, which he failed. The video depicts him struggling to walk in a straight line along the jet bridge, clearly impaired. As a result, he was charged with driving under the influence and was prohibited from flying that day.

Despite the incident, records indicate Allsop remains employed by Southwest Airlines. The airline later resumed the flight after a four-hour delay, staffing the plane with a sober replacement pilot. The airline emphasized their commitment to safety, stating that nothing is more important than the security of employees and travelers.

Southwest Airlines has not commented publicly beyond their initial statement.