US jury finds woman guilty of stowing away on Delta flight to Paris

A Brooklyn federal jury has convicted Svetlana Dali, a Russian citizen and US permanent resident, of illegally boarding a Delta Airlines flight to Paris without a ticket, finding her guilty of a federal stowaway charge on May 22.

Prosecutors said Dali, who most recently lived in Philadelphia, bypassed security at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Nov. 26, 2024, by entering through a crew-only lane and blending in with boarding passengers at gate B38 in Terminal 4. Surveillance video showed her following closely behind a group of customers after gate agents had scanned their boarding passes and ushered them toward the jet bridge, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Once onboard the overnight flight to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Dali allegedly remained in the aircraft’s bathroom for nearly the entire duration. She was discovered before the plane landed and was unable to produce a boarding pass, according to an FBI complaint. French authorities refused to allow her entry into the country, and she was ultimately returned to the United States to face charges.

Dali took the stand during the brief trial and admitted she boarded the plane without a ticket, saying she simply “walked into the airplane.” She pleaded not guilty but was convicted following the jury’s deliberation.

Her sentencing date has not been set. Federal sentencing guidelines suggest a range of zero to six months in prison, though Dali has already spent over five months in custody.

After her initial release in early December 2024, Dali reportedly removed her ankle monitor and attempted to flee to Canada by bus, only to be intercepted at the Peace Bridge crossing in Buffalo on Dec. 16. She has remained in custody since.

In response to the incident, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed that a review was conducted and additional security measures have since been implemented. “TSA’s security measures are always evolving to ensure this type of incident does not happen again,” a spokesperson said.

By Sabina Mammadli