A Russian national, Svetlana Dali, 57, has been charged in a U.S. federal court after she stowed away on a flight from New York to Paris. The Brooklyn courtroom charged Dali with boarding an aircraft without consent, an offense that could carry a sentence of up to five years in prison if she is convicted.
Dali appeared in court but did not enter a plea. Her attorney, Michael Schneider, described the offense as a minor one and noted that she had passed through security screening. Both the prosecution and defense agreed on a temporary detention order until a bail package could be arranged, with the primary issue being the identification of a suitable residence for Dali.
Svetlana Dali was arrested by the FBI upon her deportation from France. During her hearing, she raised concerns about the poor conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, describing them as torturous. According to her lawyer, she was cold and denied medical treatment. The Federal Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on specific conditions but stated that efforts are ongoing to address staffing and operational challenges.
How the Incident Unfolded?
Svetlana Dali managed to sneak onto Delta Flight 264 from New York’s JFK International Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on November 26. According to the criminal complaint filed against her, she admitted to not having a ticket and intentionally evading security to board the flight without purchasing one.
Surveillance footage from JFK Airport revealed that Dali was initially turned away at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint for lacking a boarding pass. However, minutes later, she bypassed security by using a lane designated for airline employees. From there, she proceeded to the departure gate, where agents preoccupied with assisting ticketed passengers failed to stop her or request her boarding pass.
Once onboard, Dali attempted to remain unnoticed by moving between lavatories. A passenger reported overhearing flight attendants discussing how the woman was hiding in different restrooms to avoid detection. The crew refrained from notifying passengers about the situation until the flight landed in Paris.
Upon landing, the captain instructed passengers to remain seated as French police boarded the plane to address what was described as a serious security issue. Dali was detained and deemed ineligible to enter France. She was subsequently deported to the United States.
Who is Svetlana Dali?
Records indicate that Svetlana Dali previously lived in the Philadelphia area, but authorities have not disclosed whether she had attempted similar actions before or if she had prior run-ins with law enforcement. She had applied for asylum in France several years ago, though details about her legal status in the United States remain unclear.
Court records show that Dali had filed two lawsuits in recent months, alleging she was the victim of military-grade chemical weapons and a kidnapping plot. Her exact motivations for boarding the flight without a ticket are unknown.
After her detention in France, Dali was initially scheduled to return to the U.S. on Saturday. However, she caused a disturbance on a flight before takeoff and was removed. She was eventually flown back on Wednesday under supervision. During the flight, Svetlana Dali sat quietly in the rear of the plane, flanked by French security officials, occasionally listening to music or resting her head.
Questions Raised About Security
The incident has highlighted significant lapses in airport and airline security. Dali bypassed multiple layers of security at JFK Terminal 4, including a checkpoint where her ID and boarding pass should have been verified. She also managed to blend in with a group of travelers at the boarding gate.
While Svetlana Dali was not carrying any prohibited items, TSA has reviewed the security footage and is preparing a civil case against her. The agency cannot bring criminal charges but may refer them to the Department of Justice.
Delta Airlines attributed the security breach to a deviation from standard procedures and stated that the company is working closely with regulators and law enforcement to address the incident. They emphasized the importance of safety and security, while also reviewing internal practices to prevent similar breaches in the future.
Aviation experts believe the incident underscores vulnerabilities within the airline industry. Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general for the Department of Transportation, called the situation a wake-up call, exposing gaps in the existing security framework.
TSA and airline officials continue to investigate the breach, with discussions ongoing about additional measures to strengthen airport security and prevent future incidents.
