Stowaway Caught on Camera Sneaking Onto NYC-Paris Flight

New surveillance footage reveals how Svetlana Dali, a 57-year-old Russian citizen, managed to board a New York-to-Paris flight without a ticket. The video, obtained by the Associated Press, shows Dali cleverly slipping past gate agents at JFK Airport by blending in with a group of ticketed passengers.

<img src="https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2025-04/250423-svetlana-dali-security-video-snip-ac-715p-71f807.jpg" alt="Svetlana Dali walking past gate agents">

Dali's Daring Journey

Dali's journey began with an initial failure at a security checkpoint. Unable to show a boarding pass, she was initially turned away. However, she then found a way into a restricted employee lane, bypassed security checks, and slipped onto the Delta Air Lines flight.

The Chase Continues

The incident came to light when Delta crew members discovered Dali mid-flight. After being detained in Paris, she was returned to New York and charged. Further complicating matters, Dali was later arrested in Buffalo after attempting to flee to Canada and removing her electronic monitoring device.

She's currently being held in a Brooklyn federal lockup awaiting trial. Prosecutors and her lawyer are currently exploring a possible plea deal.

Key Events:

• Initially stopped at security: Dali's attempt to board the flight began with an unsuccessful attempt to pass security without a boarding pass.
• Sneaking past security: She then cleverly bypassed security by infiltrating an employee lane and navigating through a screening area.
• Boarding the flight: Dali expertly blended in with other passengers, slipping past gate agents unnoticed.
• Discovery and arrest: Dali was discovered mid-flight and detained in Paris, then extradited to New York, and arrested again in Buffalo while attempting to flee.
• Ongoing legal proceedings: A trial is pending, but a plea deal is a possibility.