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A Southwest Airlines flight departing from Houston's William P. Hobby Airport to Phoenix was forced to return to the gate after a female passenger stripped naked and caused a major disturbance before takeoff.

Passengers were shocked as the woman, initially fully clothed, walked to the front of the plane and demanded to be let off.

When the aircraft continued taxiing, she suddenly removed all her clothing, leaving herself completely exposed, according to reports from ABC10.

Video footage captured the woman walking up and down the aisle while shouting. Witnesses, including young children, watched in disbelief. One passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, told 12 News, "It came as a complete surprise to everyone."

The situation escalated when the woman started banging on the cockpit door, demanding to be let in. She also physically interacted with a female flight attendant, rubbing against her while continuing her erratic behavior, as reported by 12 News.

"It was very evident that she was having a mental breakdown," another witness stated. Many passengers remained in their seats, hoping the plane would not take off under these circumstances.

The pilot ultimately made the decision to return to the gate. As soon as the aircraft stopped, an airline employee boarded with a blanket to cover the woman, but she ran off the plane. Houston Police officers quickly detained her and transported her to a hospital for a medical evaluation.

Southwest Flight Delayed After Passenger's Outburst, No Charges Filed

Authorities confirmed that the woman is not currently facing criminal charges. However, her actions resulted in a one-hour delay before the flight was able to continue to Phoenix.

According to DialyMail, Southwest Airlines issued a statement regarding the incident: "We've reached out to Customers to apologize for the delay and appreciate their patience as our Teams worked to get them to their destinations as quickly as possible."

Reports indicate that the woman may have been experiencing a mental health crisis. During her outburst, she reportedly claimed to be bipolar and insisted on leaving the plane immediately.

Another passenger, Beast Games contestant Macy Estevez, captured footage of the incident. She told ABC13 that the woman continued moving up and down the aisle for nearly 30 minutes before authorities intervened.

Some passengers expressed concern over the length of time it took for flight staff or law enforcement to act. "Very weird that nobody kind of intervened," one person remarked. "Everyone kind of recognized the situation and just let her run on and on."

Security experts advise passengers to stay calm in such situations, move away from the disruptive individual, and follow crew instructions. While this incident ended without injuries, it underscores the importance of addressing passenger disturbances quickly to ensure flight safety.

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Southwest Airlines