Side effects of not sleeping: Woman strips at US airport

Perhaps she was proving she had nothing to hide or maybe she thought officials had asked for a strip search? Whatever the case there was all round confusion when one woman stripped naked at Denver International Airport on Tuesday morning.

The bizarre incident happened when the woman was caught illegally smoking a cigarette at an airport departure gate. Airport workers told the woman to put out the cigarette — at which point she took off all her clothes. It is unclear why she removed her clothes but police said that the cigarette issue was unrelated. They added that she told officers she was exhausted owing to lack of sleep.

Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said, “It appears to be some sort of a breakdown.” Raquel Lopez, spokesperson for Denver Police added, “The woman told officers that she had not slept the night before.” A photo shows the woman totally in the nude with her back to the check-in desk while a fellow passenger keeps his eyes firmly averted from the lady who has a pile of clothing at her feet.

One witness, who wished to stay anonymous, said most passengers were startled by the woman. “Most were shocked,” he said. “No one really noticed her at first because people were trying to get to their planes. Then, everyone realised she was just standing there completely naked.”
She was not arrested and faces no charges. Laura Coale, an airport spokesperson said, “There is no clothing-optional area — nor are there any plans to create one."