Newly released bodycam footage reveals the dramatic arrest of a Southwest Airlines pilot who was removed from his cockpit just moments before takeoff on suspicions of intoxication.
David Allsop, 52, was taken into custody in January at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia for driving under the influence.
The shocking video footage surfaced Thursday.
The veteran pilot was scheduled to captain Flight 3772 bound for Chicago when law enforcement officers boarded the aircraft and apprehended him directly from his cockpit.
Transportation Security Administration officers first alerted police to their concerns about Allsop’s potential intoxication, though the specific details that triggered their suspicions remain undisclosed.
Body camera footage captured an officer confronting Allsop on the jet bridge, where the law enforcement official reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the pilot.
When questioned about the smell, Allsop attempted to explain it away by claiming it came from a Rogues nicotine pouch he had been using.
The arrest occurred while Allsop was conducting standard pre-flight checks, with passengers already seated aboard the aircraft waiting for departure.
Police officers boarded the plane and escorted the pilot off before beginning their investigation into his alleged recent alcohol consumption.
During questioning, Allsop admitted to consuming alcohol the previous evening, stating he had drunk “a few beers” approximately “like 10 hours ago at least.”
When pressed by officers to provide more specific details about his alcohol intake, Allsop clarified that he had consumed “like, three” Miller Light beers alongside his first officer.
Allsop initially resisted the testing, telling officers the tests “weren’t necessary,” but he eventually agreed to comply with their demands.
The pilot performed the sobriety tests on the jetway outside the aircraft, where he failed two of the three administered examinations, according to WMUR reports.
Following his poor performance on the field tests, officers requested that Allsop undergo a blood draw to determine his exact blood alcohol content level.
Allsop refused to submit to the blood test, leading officers to proceed with his arrest and removal from the airport premises.
The footage shows Allsop being handcuffed and placed in the back of a police vehicle before being transported away for additional questioning.
Southwest Airlines terminated Allsop’s employment following the incident, effectively bringing an end to his nearly two-decade aviation career with the company.
“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees,” the airline stated in their official response to the Daily Mail regarding the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration moved swiftly to revoke Allsop’s pilot’s license, while criminal charges against him remain pending in the court system.
Should prosecutors decide to move forward with the case, Allsop will face federal charges related to his alleged intoxication while on duty.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Allsop had served as a Southwest Airlines pilot for more than 19 years before this incident ended his career.
Prior to his commercial aviation career, Allsop served his country in the United States Air Force, beginning his military service with the 50th Airlift Squadron in 1998.
WATCH:
