A Southwest Airlines pilot was removed from the cockpit before a flight from Georgia to Chicago on Wednesday and booked on a drunken driving charge, a person familiar with the matter told CBS News.

David Paul Allsop allegedly smelled of alcohol and may have shown other signs of intoxication, sources said. Savannah Airport Police removed him before flight 3772 took off from Chicago's Midway Airport.

"The employee has been placed on administrative leave," a Southwest spokesman said. "The passengers were placed on alternative flights and we apologize for the disruption to their travel plans. Nothing comes more seriously to Southwest than the safety of our employees and passengers." It’s important.”

Alsop's bail was set at $3,500, according to jail records, which also indicate he has posted bail.

According to the FAA, airline employees are prohibited from performing (safety-sensitive functions) if they have a breath alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher on a required alcohol test or if they use alcohol in violation of regulations. If the breath alcohol concentration during the prescribed alcohol test is between 0.02 - 0.039, the execution of these functions will be temporarily stopped. "

Officials have not released information about Althorp's breath or blood alcohol levels.

Pilots are also prohibited from drinking alcohol within eight hours of a flight, according to FAA regulations, although the FAA says a more conservative approach is to wait 24 hours after the last drink before flying.

"Any factor that impairs a pilot's ability to perform required tasks during aircraft operations is a recipe for disaster," the FAA said. "Alcohol consumption is an important self-imposed stressor and should be eliminated from the cockpit. The ability to do so It’s completely within the pilot’s control.”

The FAA also requires annual random alcohol testing of pilots. CBS News has reached out to the FAA for more information about the testing.

Last year, a Delta pilot showed up drunk before a flight and was arrested Sentenced to 10 months Jailed by the Scottish courts.