NEW YORK -- Svetlana Dali was arrested for the second time this month on Monday, after being apprehended earlier by the FBI on December 4 for stowing away on a Delta Air Lines flight from the United States to France. Dali had cut off her ankle monitor on Sunday and attempted to sneak across the Canadian border, according to law enforcement sources.
The person with whom she was staying in Philadelphia found the cut ankle monitor and immediately alerted authorities. Following this, the Eastern District of New York issued an arrest warrant for bail jumping on Monday morning. Dali was apprehended later the same day in Buffalo, New York, as she tried to board a Greyhound bus headed to Canada. She was unable to present a passport when asked, which resulted in her immediate detention.
According to reports from ABC News, Dali, who was born in Russia, had initially attracted attention after sneaking onto Delta Flight 264, which departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport bound for Paris on November 26. Dali’s unauthorized boarding led French authorities to detain her upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle International Airport; she was sent back to the U.S. shortly thereafter.
French Interior Ministry officials stated, “She was not admitted to French territory due to lack of valid travel document (visa) and was placed in the waiting area for the time necessary for her re-routing to the United States since she held a valid US residence permit.” This highlighted the legal turmoil surrounding Dali’s actions, as she is legally allowed to reside in the U.S.
Following her return, Dali faced charges for her actions. During her hearing on December 6, she was released under strict conditions, which included electronic monitoring, living under curfew at her acquaintance’s home, and being prohibited from leaving Philadelphia except for her court meetings. According to statements provided by legal representatives, “This is the only reported case of unauthorized access when over 18 million passengers were screened at TSA security checkpoints during the busiest Thanksgiving travel season ever,” as noted by the Transportation Security Administration.
Despite these precautions, Dali managed to cut off her electronic monitor and make her way to Buffalo, reportedly taking public transport with the intention of escaping to Canada. A court complaint detailed how she used the confounding environment of the airport to blend with airport staff. She passed through security by joining the line meant for airline employees, where she was able to board the plane without presenting any form of required documentation. During the flight, Dali infamously moved between lavatories, leaving crew members suspicious of her presence.
The incident has drawn attention and raised concerns over airport security, with Delta Airlines issuing statements affirming their commitment to safety: “Our review affirms Delta’s security infrastructure, as part of our Safety Management System framework, is sound and deviation from standard procedures is the root cause of this event.” Following her apprehension, Dali faced the possibility of additional charges as well—as it is estimated she may resist her previous bail release conditions.
During her recent court appearance, Dali chose to forgo representation by public defenders, opting instead to speak on her behalf. Dali previously claimed through legal documents to have been sex trafficked and poisoned, statements which reflected her troubled past and legal claims against her ex-husband and multiple agencies including the FBI. Her ex-husband Mahdi Dali provided insights to the media, stating, “I was scammed. All she wanted was to live in America and I was naïve enough to fall for it.”
From her initial detainment at JFK Airport to now facing multiple legal challenges and the prospect of years behind bars, Dali's story sheds light on the serious issues of border security and public safety, especially considering the unconventional ways individuals may attempt to bypass regulations.
Her attempt to cross the Canadian border was described by officials as reckless and indicative of greater mental health issues, emphasizing the future of her legal battles and the scrutiny surrounding her actions. Authorities are continuing to investigate how she managed to orchestrate such multiple escapes, leaving many to question how this was allowed to continue without stricter preventative measures.
While many are following the case closely, the outcome may have broader ramifications for airport security protocols and the treatment of repeat offenders during such high-stakes proceedings.
