A woman, Svetlana Dali, who managed to stow away on a New York-to-Paris flight in November, had previously attempted to sneak into secure areas of other US airports without a ticket, a prosecutor revealed at a bail hearing in federal court in Brooklyn. Dali, a Russian woman with permanent US residency, admitted to trying to travel for free at several domestic airports, including Miami International Airport last February. The prosecutor expressed concerns about Dali potentially fleeing while awaiting trial on a stowaway charge.
Dali, who appeared in court wearing a jailhouse uniform and needing a cane due to a medical issue, was released with electronic monitoring and strict pretrial conditions, such as a ban from all airports and a curfew. Her attorney argued that she had no criminal history and that the offense was minor, comparing it to jumping a subway turnstile. However, the prosecutor emphasized the serious nature of the offense in terms of national and public security risks.
According to a criminal complaint, Dali managed to board a Delta Air Lines flight to Paris by evading TSA officers and airline employees by hiding amid a flight crew. She was discovered on the plane once it was in the air, and French authorities detained her upon arrival in Paris. Delta Air Lines stated that its security infrastructure was sound and that deviations from standard procedures were to blame for the incident. The airline assured that measures were being taken to prevent similar breaches in the future and emphasized the importance of safety and security.
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