Russian woman sneaks onto flight from New York to Paris without a boarding pass

In November 2023, Svetlana Dali, a 57-year-old Russian citizen residing in the United States, managed to board a Delta Air Lines flight from JFK International Airport in New York to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris without possessing a valid boarding pass. Surveillance footage shows Dali navigating through security checkpoints, initially being denied entry for lacking a boarding pass. She cleverly blended in with airline crew members to access a restricted security lane, ultimately leading to the screening area where she was patted down. This strategic maneuver allowed her to bypass security completely. As she approached the gate, Dali donned a gray hoodie under a black jacket and carried an oversized backpack. She inconspicuously joined a group of ticketed passengers and managed to slip past two gate agents who were checking for boarding passes. The agents failed to recognize her fraudulent actions, granting her a pathway onto the airbridge and into the plane. Dali's unauthorized presence was not detected until the flight was already airborne, at which point crew members informed French authorities upon arrival in Paris. Once in France, Dali was apprehended before she could complete customs procedures. The police were informed of her unauthorized status as a stowaway. Following her detention, Dali was flown back to the U.S., where she confessed to officials about evading security and staff in order to evade purchasing a ticket. Subsequently, Dali faced legal consequences for her actions and was released initially under electronic monitoring. However, the situation escalated when Dali cut off her electronic ankle monitor while in Buffalo, New York, and attempted to cross into Canada illegally. As a result, she was arrested again. Currently, Dali is being held in a federal lockup in Brooklyn. She has pleaded not guilty to charges related to stowing away on the flight, and her trial is expected to begin next month. Negotiations for a potential plea deal are ongoing between her legal representation and prosecutors.