A Russian woman with permanent U.S. residency, Svetlana Dali, made her first court appearance in Brooklyn on Thursday after authorities charged her with sneaking onto a flight from New York to Paris without proper documentation. The incident has raised concerns about airport security and highlighted Dali's claims of mistreatment following her apprehension.
Courtroom Drama and Allegations
Dali, appearing visibly agitated and wearing jeans, addressed the court through a Russian interpreter. Her attorney, Michael Schneider, revealed that she claimed to have been poisoned upon her arrival in Paris and denied asylum before being returned to the United States.
Furthermore, Dali alleged that her treatment at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center amounted to torture. According to Schneider, she was placed in a "very cold" room where she became ill and lost consciousness. "She believes if she’s staying at the MDC, her life will be in danger," Schneider told Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy.
Dali requested that her blood be tested for poisoning using a spectrometer, a request Judge Levy dryly noted might not be available at the jail’s commissary. A bail hearing was postponed to Friday, with both sides agreeing more information was needed to finalize a bail package.
Risk of Flight and Minor Charges
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Theodora described Dali as a flight risk. Despite the serious implications of her actions, her lawyer characterized the single federal stowaway charge as a "minor charge" comparable to skipping a subway fare.
Details of the Security Breach
The criminal complaint provided detailed accounts of how Dali bypassed security at John F. Kennedy International Airport. On November 26, surveillance footage captured her being turned away by a TSA official for lacking a boarding pass. Undeterred, she followed a large Air Europa flight crew through an employee access lane, successfully bypassing the screening process.
Later, Dali managed to board Delta Flight DL264 to Paris without being stopped by airline agents, who were assisting ticketed passengers. Once the flight was en route, Delta employees discovered she did not have a boarding pass and detained her.
Upon landing at Charles de Gaulle Airport, French authorities detained her and returned her to the U.S. after denying her entry. During questioning by the FBI, Dali admitted to her actions, acknowledging they were illegal and identifying herself in airport surveillance images.
Delta Air Lines Responds
Delta Air Lines, in a statement, thanked French and U.S. authorities for their assistance. The airline stated that a review concluded its security infrastructure was "sound" but cited "deviation from standard procedures" as the root cause of the breach. “We are thoroughly addressing this matter and will continue to work closely with our regulators, law enforcement, and other relevant stakeholders,” Delta said. "Nothing is of greater importance than safety and security."
Ongoing Investigation
The incident has prompted investigations by both the Transportation Security Administration and Delta Air Lines. The case highlights vulnerabilities in airport security and raises questions about how such breaches can be prevented in the future.
Dali remains in custody as the court deliberates on her bail, with her next hearing scheduled for Friday.
