Svetlana Dali, the woman accused of boarding a Delta flight from New York to Paris without a ticket, appeared in federal court on Thursday, charged with being a stowaway. If convicted, Dali faces up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.
Details of her unauthorized journey
According to an FBI criminal complaint, Dali bypassed multiple security and ticketing checkpoints at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on November 26. She reportedly entered the security line through a special lane meant for airline employees, using a large Air Europa flight crew as cover.
Although Dali completed a full TSA security screening—confirming she had no prohibited items—the lack of a boarding pass allowed her to evade further checks. Delta agents, busy assisting ticketed passengers, failed to stop her as she boarded the flight to Paris.
During the flight, Delta employees realized she wasn’t a registered passenger after asking her for a boarding pass, which she couldn’t provide. French authorities detained her upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport, where she was denied entry due to a lack of proper travel documents and later sent back to the U.S.
Court proceedings
Dali was taken into custody upon her return to New York on Wednesday. During her court appearance, she did not enter a plea, as the charge was filed via FBI complaint, meaning formal pleas will only be entered after a potential indictment by a grand jury.
Her attorney, Michael Schneider, compared her actions to fare evasion, arguing that while unlawful, it did not pose a security threat. He noted Dali is a permanent U.S. resident, and efforts are underway to verify her Pennsylvania address. Schneider also raised concerns about her safety at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where she is currently detained.
Security implications and TSA response
TSA Administrator David Pekoske acknowledged that while Dali bypassed some security measures, she successfully passed a full screening, minimizing any potential safety threat. However, he described her actions as a clear attempt to evade standard protocols.
“This type of security breach is rare, especially during the high-traffic Thanksgiving travel period,” Pekoske said, noting how the incident highlighted potential vulnerabilities in airport procedures.
Next steps
Dali is set to return to court on Friday as her legal team works to propose a bail package. The case has raised broader concerns about airport security during peak travel periods, prompting officials to evaluate safeguards against such incidents in the future.
