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

A Southwest Airlines pilot suspected of being drunk was removed from the cockpit and arrested just before takeoff Wednesday at a Georgia airport, according to airline officials and authorities in the state.

A Southwest Airlines pilot was apprehended in Georgia this week, delaying a flight from Savannah/Hilton Head to Chicago Midway. The pilot was reportedly escorted from the plane shortly before it was due to fly on Wednesday morning.

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 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 removed from the cockpit ... of an aircraft is an invitation for disaster," according to the FAA. "The use of alcohol is a significant self-imposed stress factor ...

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.

A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested Wednesday at ... if the pilot has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater, FAA regulations say. “We’re aware of a situation involving an ...

Southwest Airlines, in a statement provided to multiple ... the operation of an aircraft is an invitation for disaster," the FAA statement read. "The use of alcohol is a significant self-imposed ...

Airlines have taken full advantage of the relaxed policies regarding the deployment of narrowbody aircraft on flights to Hawaii. Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines heavily utilize the Boeing 737 on various Hawaiian routes, while carriers like American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines deploy the Airbus A321neo.