A woman who was previously arrested for stowing away on a Delta Air Lines flight has been apprehended again after attempting to flee to Canada.
Svetlana Dali, a 57-year-old Russian national with US permanent residency, was arrested again on 16 December 2024. In a second incident, she attempted to flee the United States by bus to Canada.
This incident follows her unauthorized stowaway attempt on a Delta Air Lines flight from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG). The flight took place late last month, on 26 November.
Background of the Initial Stowaway Incident
Dali’s first journey began on 26 November 2024. She managed to board a Delta Air Lines flight to Paris without a ticket or a passport. She reportedly used a special lane for airline employees to bypass airport security. Passing through the lane, she blended in with a large Air Europa flight crew.
Despite not having a ticket, she was screened by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and made it onto the Paris-bound flight.
The stowaway was discovered mid-flight when crewmembers’ suspicions were raised by her frequent extended visits to the aircraft lavatories.
A check then revealed that she was not on the passenger manifest and she was subsequently denied entry into France. Authorities detained her on the flight’s arrival at Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport.
She was returned to the United States and subsequently arrested by the FBI upon her return on 4 December.
She was charged with obtaining transportation on an aircraft without consent or permission. Following a federal court hearing in Brooklyn, Dali was released with a GPS ankle monitor.
The Attempted Escape to Canada
However, on 16 December, Dali attempted to flee the country once again. She allegedly cut off her ankle monitor and boarded a bus to Canada. She was apprehended at the Canada border crossing in New York State.
Dali is scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge in Buffalo on Tuesday afternoon before being transferred back to Brooklyn custody.
The Ongoing Investigation
The original Delta stowaway incident has raised questions about airport security protocols and how Dali was able to board the flight without a ticket.
Authorities are currently investigating the matter to determine the full story as to how she was able to bypass several security checks. Dali was not in possession of a passport or a boarding pass.
Delta Air Lines has stated that it is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.
Dali now faces additional charges for attempting to flee the country for a second time. Her future legal proceedings will determine her fate.
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