A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia on Wednesday morning, shortly before the scheduled departure of Flight 3772 to Chicago. David Allsop, 52, was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) after authorities detected signs of intoxication.

The flight, initially set to depart at 7 a.m., was delayed by nearly four hours. Passengers were accommodated on alternative flights, and the airline issued an apology for the disruption. A Southwest Airlines spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to safety, stating, “There’s nothing more important to Southwest than the safety of our employees and customers.”

Instances of pilots being arrested for intoxication are rare but not unprecedented. In May 2024, a Japan Airlines pilot was removed from duty after being found intoxicated before a flight from Dallas to Tokyo. The airline canceled the flight to assess the captain’s well-being.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that pilots must not have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04% or greater and prohibits alcohol consumption within eight hours of flying. The FAA is actively investigating the incident.