Woman Who Stowed Away on Paris Flight Arrested Again at Canadian Border

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Svetlana Dali, a 57-year-old thrill-seeker whose escapades have included everything from sneaking aboard international flights to cutting off ankle monitors and attempting a cross-border bus caper. Buckle up, because Dali's misadventures are a mixture of spy thriller, sitcom, and a travelogue gone terribly wrong.

Flying Without a Ticket: Dali's Parisian Faux Pas

It all began on Nov. 26, 2024, when Dali — a U.S. permanent resident and Russian national — decided to skip the pesky step of buying a plane ticket. She allegedly outwitted TSA agents at JFK Airport in New York, sneaking past security and boarding Delta^® Flight 264 to Paris like it was her own private jet.

According to prosecutors, she maneuvered through an employee lane and blended into the chaos at the boarding gate, where busy Delta agents failed to ask for her boarding pass. Once on board, Dali reportedly tried to stay under the radar by playing musical lavatories, moving from one bathroom to another to avoid detection.

Passengers only learned about their uninvited guest upon landing in Paris, when the captain announced a "serious security issue," as reported by CNN. French police boarded the plane and promptly detained Dali, who was ineligible to enter France and sent her back to the United States.

Greyhound^® Galavanting: Dali's Canadian Getaway Attempt

But Svetlana wasn't ready to settle down. After being released on bail with strict conditions — including GPS monitoring and a curfew — a few weeks later in December 2024, Dali made a break for it. She ditched her ankle monitor, leaving it on the floor of her temporary Philadelphia residence. Her roommate promptly alerted authorities, earning a gold star for civic duty.

Next, Dali reportedly hopped on a Greyhound bus bound for Canada, perhaps hoping for a fresh start north of the border. Unfortunately for her, Canadian authorities weren't feeling welcoming vibes. She was apprehended near the U.S.-Canada border and handed back to the FBI.

A Courtroom Drama Worthy of Popcorn

Dali is now facing a laundry list of legal troubles, including charges of bail jumping that could land her in federal prison for up to five years. Judge Joseph Marutollo, who initially allowed her release despite concerns from prosecutors, must be regretting his decision.

Prosecutor Brooke Theodora had warned the court about Dali's penchant for eluding security, calling her a flight risk and citing national security concerns. Meanwhile, Dali's attorney, Michael Schneider, countered by downplaying her escapades, pointing out that sneaking onto planes isn't something she can do every day. Turns out, Dali was happy to settle for Greyhound.

Who Is Svetlana Dali?

Beyond her headline-grabbing stunts, Dali remains something of a mystery. She reportedly once lived in Philadelphia and had applied for asylum in France years ago. More recently, she filed lawsuits claiming she was the victim of military-grade chemical weapons and a kidnapping plot.

Was her Paris adventure an attempt to escape these alleged threats? Or is she simply a wandering spirit with a flair for the dramatic? Either way, her antics have earned her a one-way ticket to infamy.

The Final Boarding Call

For now, Dali remains in FBI custody and is expected to face a judge in Buffalo, New York, before being transferred to Brooklyn. As we await the next chapter in her ongoing investigation, one thing is clear: Whether on a plane, on a bus, or in a courtroom, Svetlana Dali knows how to keep things interesting.

References: Delta stowaway apprehended again after allegedly trying to cross border into Canada | Woman who stowed away on Delta flight to Paris apprehended again, this time trying to get into Canada