A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested at Savannah Hilton Head International Airport and accused of DUI.
A Transportation Security Administration officer smelled alcohol on the pilot and informed law enforcement officials, who arrested him.
"We’re aware of a situation involving an employee on Flight 3772 this morning from Savannah. The Employee has been removed from duty," the airline said in a statement.
The flight, which was headed to Chicago, was delayed by five hours, according to flight records.
The airline apologized for the disruption and said customers were accommodated on other flights.
Federal Aviation Administration regulations "prohibit pilots from using alcohol while on duty or from flying, or attempting to fly, an aircraft within eight hours of consuming alcohol or if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04% or greater," the agency said in a statement.
Chatham County sheriff's records indicate airport police arrested David Allsop on a charge of driving under the influence. He was being held on $3,500 bond, according to sheriff’s records.
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