Bodycam Shows Police Cuff Southwest Airlines Pilot For Allegedly Attempting To Fly Drunk

Newly released bodycam footage shows the tense moments after police allegedly removed a Southwest Airlines pilot from the cockpit for trying to fly while drunk in January.

Captain David Allsop arrived at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia shortly prior to 6 a.m., according to WJCL News. However, TSA agents claimed they smelled alcohol on him. Allsop allegedly boarded the airliner and started pre-flight checks before officers arrived and removed him. (RELATED: American Pilot Jailed Abroad For Trying To Fly While Drunk)

“When’s the last time you had something to drink?” an officer asks in the bodycam video posted by the outlet.

“Last night,” Allsop replies, appearing to say it had been “at least” 10 hours. He allegedly admitted he had a few beers the night prior, according to the outlet.

“Would you be willing to provide field sobriety with me right now?” an officer asks.

“No. There’s no need,” the captain responds regarding the sobriety test, according to the footage.

“Well, I can smell an odor consistent with an alcoholic beverage,” the officer alleges. Allsop claims the smell may be connected to nicotine gum. He consented to testing and allegedly failed two out of three tests. He appears to refuse a blood draw.

“Even if I gave you blood, nothing would change,” Allsop says, according to the video.

A Southwest employee reportedly asked police to delay taking Allsop into custody, according to WJCL News. “I was told that we were supposed to take control, if that makes sense … to be released to us because we’re bringing in our own drug and alcohol team,” a woman says, according to the footage.

“No ma’am. We can’t—we have to do our job by the State of Georgia first,” another officer responded over the phone. WJCL reported that they asked the airline about the matter but they could not provide details due to legal and personnel concerns.

The Federal Aviation Administration revoked Allsop’s license in July, according to WJCL News. Criminal charges against him remain pending.

A Southwest spokesperson issued a statement to CNN at the time of the incident. “We are aware of a situation involving an employee on Flight 3772 Wednesday morning from Savannah,” they said, adding that Allsop was “removed from duty.”

The Daily Caller has reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment.