Moment Southwest pilot fails sobriety test before takeoff captured on bodycam footage
Pilot David Paul Allsop, 52, was about to take off from Savannah Hilton Head Airport at 7 a.m. on Jan. 15 en route to Chicago when two officers asked the glassy-eyed airman to prove his sobriety, ABC Chicago reported.
Allsop, 52, initially refused a field sobriety test but consented after the officer revealed he smelled of booze.
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Video showed Allsop, a New Hampshire resident, exit the cabin door of Southwest Flight 3772 and confront two officers who suspected the pilot of already having his feet off the ground.
'When was the last time you had a drink?' the police officer wearing the bodycam asked.
'Last night,' Allsop replied, breaking eye contact with the cop.
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'About how many hours ago?'
'About, 10 hours ago,' the pilot responds sheepishly.
Allsop then denied the officer's request for a field sobriety test, saying with a shrug, 'There's no need.'
'Well, I can smell an odor consistent with an alcoholic beverage,' the officer retorted, sending the pilot into a tizzy.
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Allsop then attempts to wipe his lips and an apparent breath mint appears to fall out of his mouth, which he clumsily bends over to try and pick up.
The footage captured Allsop failing to walk in a straight line on the jet bridge outside the plane.
The pilot then consented to a field sobriety test, which he failed.
Video showed Allsop struggling to walk in a straight line down the jet bridge.
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He was charged with driving under the influence and not permitted to fly that day.
A LinkedIn profile for a David Allsop, who is a pilot, showed he is still employed by the airline.
Southwest 3772 was able to take off after a four-hour delay as the airline located a new — and sober — pilot.
'There's nothing more important to Southwest than the safety of our employees and customers,' the airline said in a statement at the time.
Southwest Airlines did not respond to The Post's request for comment.
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