A woman faces federal charges after sneaking aboard a Delta Airlines flight from New York to Paris last week. Investigators stated she bypassed multiple security layers during the Thanksgiving holiday.
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Svetlana Dali, 57, boarded Delta Flight 264 on November 26 and went undetected until a flight attendant found her hiding in the bathroom during the flight. After the plane landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, she was detained by French authorities. When she was scheduled to fly back to New York on Saturday, Dali caused a disruption, which led to her removal from the flight. She was successfully extradited on Wednesday, escorted by French security officials on a Delta-operated flight back to JFK Airport.
Dali has legal residency in the United States but travels with a Russian passport and is expected to face federal charges of being a stowaway on an aircraft without consent. According to TOO FAB, the crime carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Her court appearance was scheduled for Thursday in the Eastern District of New York.
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Delta said in a statement that a “deviation from standard procedures” was the cause of Dali’s crime but did not say any further details regarding security issues.
“We are thoroughly addressing this matter and will continue to work closely with our regulators, law enforcement and other relevant stakeholders. Nothing is of greater importance than safety and security.”
The airline also thanked authorities for their swift efforts and detaining Dali for the act.
