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.

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

David Allsop, 52, is charged with driving under the influence, according to Chatham County Sheriff's office jail records.

The Department of Transportation is suing Southwest Airlines, accusing it of operating two “chronically delayed flights” in 2022 that resulted in 180 flight disruptions.

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

The Transportation Department is stepping up enforcement of persistent flight delays with a civil lawsuit against Southwest Airlines and a fine against Frontier Airlines.

In the midst of the airline’s financial woes, the company just revealed that it will be making some major changes in an effort to cut costs. According to a new report from CNBC, Southwest Airlines is putting a freeze on corporate hiring and promotions.

President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday sued Southwest Airlines , accusing the carrier of illegally operating multiple chronically delayed flights and disrupting passengers’ travel.

The Transportation Department said in a lawsuit that two of the airline’s routes were consistently delayed in violation of federal rules.

In September, the company slashed its flights from Atlanta, eliminating jobs, though staff were able to apply to work out of other bases.

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 lawsuit filed against Southwest alleges the airline operated multiple “chronically delayed” flights affecting thousands of passengers.