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Bodycam video shows interaction with Southwest Airlines pilot arrested for DUI

Bodycam video shows interaction with Southwest Airlines pilot arrested for DUI
It started as *** normal day for Southwest Airlines pilot David Allsopp. Just before 6 a.m. he walked into the Savannah International Airport and went through security, but something was off with Allsop, and TSA noticed. Is one of yours on I wanna check *** pilot or something. Uh. This call into airport police happened around the same time Allsopp boarded the aircraft as he and the first officer were doing pre-flight checks in the cockpit. Officers arrived and pulled him from the plane. About how many hours ago? Uh, like 10 hours ago at least. Also tells the cops he had *** few light beers. They ask, Would you be willing to sobriety. There's no need. I can smell an odor consistent with an alcoholic beverage. Allsopp explains to the officers that the smell might be his nicotine gum. He goes back into the cockpit to grab it for them, and the other officer gets *** whiff of the pilot himself. Captain Allsop eventually underwent those field sobriety tests, but body cam shows he failed two of the three. Airport police asked him for *** blood draw. Only way to fully prove his innocence or guilt that you were willing to make with that, the officers had no other choice but to escort him out of the airport. It'd be the last time Allsop would leave with his wings, but it wasn't over. I was told that we're supposed to. Uh. Take control of him if that makes sense that he's he's got to be released to us because we're bringing in our own drug and alcohol teams. Southwest Airlines employees tried to take Allsop into their own custody. Body cam video shows the employees asking police to wait until they can conduct their own drug and alcohol tests for their own investigation, but airport police brought into *** phone conversation, shut that down quick. No, ma'am, we can't, we, we have to do our job by the state of Georgia first.
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Updated: 10:13 AM CDT Aug 15, 2025
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Bodycam video shows interaction with Southwest Airlines pilot arrested for DUI
WJCL logo
Updated: 10:13 AM CDT Aug 15, 2025
Editorial Standards
Newly released body camera and surveillance video show the interaction between law enforcement and a Southwest Airlines pilot, who was arrested for DUI at a Georgia airport earlier this year.Watch the body camera video in the player above.David Allsop, 52, was arrested in January at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Savannah, Georgia.Allsop was scheduled to fly a Southwest Airlines flight from Savannah to Chicago. Passengers had already boarded the plane when police came on board and escorted Allsop off.Federal law prohibits pilots from flying or trying to fly with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 or higher. They're also restricted from drinking within eight hours before a flight.When asked when the last time he had something to drink, Allsop said, "last night," according to the body camera video. When asked how many hours ago, Allsop responded, "like 10 hours ago at least."When asked how many drinks he had, Allsop responded, "a few beers."The officer said he could smell an odor consistent with an alcoholic beverage, according to the video.The body camera video showed Allsop performing field sobriety tests in the jetway. Video then showed Allsop being placed into handcuffs and into the back of a police cruiser.Allsop's license was revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration and criminal charges against him are pending, according to sister station WJCL.Southwest Airlines said the employee was immediately removed from duty.

Newly released body camera and surveillance video show the interaction between law enforcement and a Southwest Airlines pilot, who was arrested for DUI at a Georgia airport earlier this year.

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Watch the body camera video in the player above.

David Allsop, 52, was arrested in January at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Savannah, Georgia.

Allsop was scheduled to fly a Southwest Airlines flight from Savannah to Chicago. Passengers had already boarded the plane when police came on board and escorted Allsop off.

Federal law prohibits pilots from flying or trying to fly with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 or higher. They're also restricted from drinking within eight hours before a flight.

When asked when the last time he had something to drink, Allsop said, "last night," according to the body camera video. When asked how many hours ago, Allsop responded, "like 10 hours ago at least."

When asked how many drinks he had, Allsop responded, "a few beers."

The officer said he could smell an odor consistent with an alcoholic beverage, according to the video.

The body camera video showed Allsop performing field sobriety tests in the jetway. Video then showed Allsop being placed into handcuffs and into the back of a police cruiser.

Allsop's license was revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration and criminal charges against him are pending, according to sister station .

Southwest Airlines said the employee was immediately removed from duty.