Jakarta – A pilot was found to be intoxicated as he was about to fly a plane. He was arrested at Savannah Airport, United States (US).
According to Stuff.co.nz, Monday (20/1/2025), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that a security officer alerted local law enforcement after noticing someone with a strong smell of alcohol who appeared to be intoxicated. The individual was in the crew line at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
The person was identified as pilot David Paul Allsop (52). Shockingly, he was about to go on duty.
Allsop was arrested by airport police on Wednesday (15/1/2025) at 7:00 AM local time.
Airport officials did not immediately release information about the arrest. However, information from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Allsop was released on a USD 3,500 bail (approximately Rp 57.3 million). Allsop could not be reached for comment.
An eyewitness, passenger Robert Newmarch, stated that the pilot was in the cockpit when authorities detained him. Newmarch mentioned that he was on board and preparing for takeoff when he saw a police officer enter the flight deck.
“He walked out of the plane, returned a few minutes later, and the pilot left with him,” said Newmarch.
FAA regulations prohibit pilots from consuming alcohol while on duty. They are not allowed to fly or attempt to operate an aircraft within eight hours of drinking alcohol or if their blood alcohol concentration is 0.04 or higher.
In March 2024, a Delta Air Lines pilot was prevented from flying after his blood alcohol level exceeded the limit in Scotland. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison.
Allsop was supposed to fly from Savannah to Chicago Midway on a Wednesday flight at 6:05 AM. Southwest Airlines stated that the employee involved in the incident had been suspended.
According to flight tracking websites, the plane experienced a takeoff delay and departed at 11:00 AM.
“Customers were accommodated on other flights, and we apologize for the disruption to their travel plans,” the airline said in a statement.
“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our employees and customers,” the airline added.
The TSA, in its statement, mentioned that the agency maintains close relationships with local law enforcement for scenarios like this.
“TSA constantly reminds passengers that if you see something, say something, and that’s exactly what our Transportation Security Officer at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) did when they noticed something unusual,” said the agency.