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.

The DOT filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, citing a pattern of chronic delays, as the government pushes for stricter accountability.

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.

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

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

The Department of Transportation alleges Southwest Airlines was “illegally operating multiple chronically delayed flights.”

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

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.

Southwest Airlines and Icelandair signed a strategic agreement on January 15 to allow travelers to connect between the two airlines’ networks, with sales and travel through Baltimore (BWI) beginning in February. The partnership will also provide connections to Iceland from Nashville (BNA) and Denver (DEN) later this year.

Southwest is disappointed that DOT chose to file a lawsuit over two flights that occurred more than two years ago," a spokesperson for the airline said.

As part of a regulatory crackdown on “chronically” late flights, federal transport regulators are suing the carrier after reaching deals with two others.