Woman accused of stowing away on flight from JFK to Paris charged in federal court

NEW YORK (WABC) — The woman accused of sneaking onto a flight from JFK Airport to Paris has been charged in federal court on Thursday.

Svetlana Dali is charged with knowingly and intentionally stowing away on an airplane.

“On or about November 26, 2024, the defendant Svetlana Dali snuck onto Delta Airlines flight DL264 at JFK without a boarding pass and flew as a stowaway to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris,” the criminal complaint said.

Surveillance footage showed Dali, 57, arriving at JFK Terminal 4 at 8:13 p.m. and attempting to get in line at the TSA checkpoint. She was turned away because she was unable to show a boarding pass, the complaint said.

A few minutes later, Dali successfully accessed the TSA line “by entering through a special lane for airline employees masked by a large Air Europa flight crew,” the complaint said. Dali was screened and boarded at gate B38 without presenting a boarding pass.

“Delta agents, who were busy helping ticketed passengers board, did not stop her or ask her to present a boarding pass before she boarded the plane,” the complaint said.

By the time the crew realized Dali did not have a seat the plane was on its way to France. “Before the flight landed, Delta employees notified French law enforcement that Dali was on the plane as a stowaway,” according to the complaint.

During an interview with the FBI upon her return Dali allegedly admitted to flying as a stowaway, stated that she did not have a plane ticket and that she intentionally evaded TSA security officials and Delta employees so that she could travel without buying one.

According to the complaint, Dali admitted the surveillance images depicted her. She also stated that she knew her conduct was illegal.

Less than a week before she became a stowaway, Dali filed a civil lawsuit against the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police and other authorities, claiming she was sold by the Russian Federation to her ex-husband for $20,000.

The lawsuit claims she was abused and poisoned. Dali filed the lawsuit herself and the allegations are handwritten.

The judge has issued a temporary order of detention until 2 p.m. Friday so Dali can try to come up with a bail package and a verifiable residence.

RELATED | New details on stowaway who allegedly snuck onto NYC Delta flight to Paris

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