Svetlana Dali, who previously gained notoriety for boarding a flight to Paris without a ticket, has once again found herself in trouble for her unauthorized travel exploits. Italian authorities apprehended Dali on Wednesday after she managed to sneak onto a flight from Newark to Milan, as reported by law enforcement officials.
Despite a prior conviction for being a stowaway and being on federal probation, Dali managed to evade security checks and board United Airlines Flight 19 without a ticket, according to sources. Her presence went unnoticed until the flight was en route, leading to her arrest upon arrival at Milan’s Malpensa Airport.
The exact consequences Dali will face remain uncertain, as authorities have yet to determine if charges will be filed against her. Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration and Port Authority police at Newark Liberty International Airport are thoroughly examining surveillance footage to understand how she bypassed security measures.
One insider, familiar with the investigation, remarked, “It’s as if she pulled off a magic trick.”
When approached for comments, representatives from the Port Authority deferred inquiries to the TSA and United Airlines, choosing not to provide additional information at this time.
Port Authority representatives declined comment and referred all questions to TSA and United Airlines.
United Airlines representatives offered no details on what happened, except to say, “Safety and security are our highest priorities. We are investigating this incident and working with the appropriate authorities.”
A United spokeswoman referred all additional questions to “law enforcement,” but didn’t specify which agency to direct those questions to. TSA officials did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Dali was sentenced to time served in July of last year, two months after a federal jury found her guilty of stowing away on an aircraft. She captured national attention by managing to board Delta Flight 264 to Paris without a ticket or boarding pass on Nov. 26, 2024.
At her sentencing, she told U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly that criminals were poisoning her and that her actions were aimed at saving her own life.
Dali suffers from a “delusional disorder,” according to a filing by her defense lawyer.
Dali made two other stowaway attempts, one at Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Conn., just 48 hours before her JFK trip, and the other at Miami International Airport in February 2024, according to prosecutors.
Dali was supposed to be re-arrested by the Connecticut State Police after her sentencing because of a pending criminal case over the Bradley attempt. But Connecticut authorities didn’t come to get her after her sentencing, and she was released from federal custody.
Dali could face charges in Brooklyn Federal Court of violating her supervised release when she’s returned to the U.S.
