A woman who successfully snuck onto a Delta Air Lines flight from New York City to Paris is back in the headlines after her chaotic return flight to the U.S. has become anything but ordinary. The 57-year-old, identified as Svetlana Dali, evaded multiple security checkpoints at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and managed to board Delta Flight 264 without any boarding pass or identification.
The incident began on one of the busiest travel days of the year, just before the Thanksgiving holiday, when Dali made her way through JFK Airport, passing through security. A source familiar with the situation revealed she went through advanced imaging technology screening and had her bags checked, yet somehow managed to bypass the identity verification and boarding pass checks. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed she did not pose a threat to aviation security during her screening.
After sneaking past TSA personnel, Dali took her place on the flight and allegedly hid between lavatories and even spent time at an empty seat, cleverly avoiding detection by other passengers and crew. It was only during landing, when her unusual activity caught the attention of flight attendants, who noted her frequent trips to and from the bathrooms. “We somehow flew all the way from New York to Paris with a stowaway,” mused one passenger on Instagram.
Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport, French authorities detained Dali. She attempted to request asylum but was denied, prompting French police to escort her back to the plane scheduled to take her home to JFK. Despite plans for her return, Dali was removed from the flight due to what has been described as a "disruptive outburst" prior to takeoff.
"She was removed by French law enforcement, causing over two hours of delay for other passengers on board," explained airport officials. Following her disruptive behavior, she was placed back at Charles de Gaulle Airport, awaiting her expulsion back to the United States. Dali had been detained since arriving in Paris, caught up in the waiting zone at the airport designated for individuals pending deportation.
According to various reports, Dali holds both a Russian passport and a U.S. green card, yet her asylum request had been rejected previously during her last stay in France. With her second bid for asylum failing too, she now faces potential charges for her antics.
Upon her eventual return to the U.S., she is anticipated to be arrested by Port Authority officers at JFK. Charges might include theft of services for hitching the flight without purchase, and possibly other local charges pertaining to her disturbance during the return flight.
While this incident raises serious questions about airport security and the processes involved, it has also sparked investigations from both TSA and Delta Airlines, focusing on the security lapse which allowed Dali to board without going through the usual checks. Delta’s official statement emphasized their commitment to aviation safety and security, indicating they would cooperate fully with law enforcement during the investigation.
Rob Jackson, another passenger on the flight from JFK to Paris, recorded the moment authorities entered the plane after landing to apprehend Dali. He recounted hearing attendants discuss the odd behavior of the woman, expressing concern over her extended stays in the lavatories, initially pondering whether she was hiding or attempting to use the restroom too frequently.
“That’s why Delta is conducting what they called exhaustive investigations to determine how she was able to bypass security checks at JFK and board the aircraft. Both the TSA and French authorities are separately investigating how this incident happened,” Jackson shared.
Current reports state Dali remains detained at Charles de Gaulle and is expected to face charges upon her return to the U.S., with the specifics still undetermined and awaiting clarification from federal authorities. Even as the plan begins for her repatriation, questions linger around future security protocols and procedures to prevent similar incidents from reoccurring.
Reactions from civilians and security experts have criticized the flaws revealed by this incident, emphasizing the necessity for stricter measures to protect the integrity of air travel. Meanwhile, Dali's rather unconventional travel story has become fodder for discussions about security loopholes, airport safety, and the unforeseen challenges faced during peak travel seasons.
It serves as a bizarre reminder of how complex the airport experience can be and the thin line travelers often walk between regulation and anomaly, not to mention the unforeseen pathways individuals might traverse when attempting such audacious acts.