SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) — A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested Wednesday morning on charges of driving under the influence, delaying a flight bound for Chicago and prompting the airline to remove him from duty.

David Paul Allsop, the pilot of Southwest Flight 3772, was taken into custody by Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport police before the scheduled 6:05 a.m. departure. The flight, originally bound for Midway Airport in Chicago, was delayed until 10:56 a.m. as the airline searched for a replacement pilot.

In a statement, Southwest Airlines confirmed the incident, saying, “We’re aware of a situation involving an Employee on Flight 3772 this morning from Savannah. The Employee has been removed from duty. Customers were accommodated on other flights, and we apologize for the disruption to their travel plans. There’s nothing more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Employees and Customers.”

Allsop was booked into the Chatham County Jail on DUI charges, according to jail records. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances leading to his arrest.

Passengers on the delayed flight were rebooked on alternative flights, and no injuries or safety incidents were reported. Southwest Airlines emphasized its commitment to safety in its statement, though the incident has raised questions about pre-flight protocols for airline personnel.

ABC News and ABC7 Chicago have reached out to local authorities for further information. This story will be updated as more details emerge.

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