Southwest Airlines confirmed the pilot had been removed from duty and apologized to customers whose travel plans were disrupted.

A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested Wednesday at a Georgia airport just before takeoff and accused of driving under the influence, according to airline officials and authorities in Georgia.

The Transportation Department is taking legal action against Southwest, alleging the airline illegally operated persistently delayed flights and disrupted passengers' travel plans.

A Southwest Airlines flight was delayed multiple hours this week after a pilot was reportedly arrested and charged with DUI before takeoff in Georgia.

The pilot was reportedly removed from the cockpit prior to takeoff at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

The pilot, a 52-year-old from Bedford who has been a licensed pilot since 2008, was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) after he allegedly drunkenly reported to a flight assignment at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Savannah, Georgia. Authorities said that the pilot reeked of alcohol when he showed up in the cockpit.

A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested at a Georgia airport and accused of DUI on Wednesday. A TSA officer smelled alcohol on the pilot and informed law enforcement officials, who arrested the pilot at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, a source familiar with the situation told NBC News.

David Paul Allsop, 52, of Bedford, New Hampshire, faces a DUI charge following his arrest at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, according to records from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia. Allsop has been a licensed pilot since 2008.

The incident in which a SpaceX rocket broke up after launch demonstrates the challenges the FAA will face as the number of commercial space flights increases.

Commercial airlines had to divert or delay their flights to avoid debris from the SpaceX Starship spacecraft that exploded Thursday during a flight test.

A veteran Southwest Airlines captain was removed from duty and charged with DUI after failing a sobriety test mere moments before a scheduled flight from Savannah to Chicago.

Alaska Airlines' merger with Hawaiian Airlines aims to enhance connectivity and drive earnings growth through strategic initiatives in 2025.