Svetlana Dali, a 57-year-old Russian woman, stowed away on a flight from New York’s JFK to Paris without a boarding pass. Once in Paris, she attempted to claim asylum, but French authorities denied her entry, as she did not meet the necessary criteria for asylum.
Dali remains at Charles de Gaulle Airport after refusing to board a return flight to the U.S. French authorities did not arrest her, but she may face charges such as criminal trespass or theft of services upon her return to the U.S.
Reports revealed that Dali managed to bypass security at JFK Airport, where she was able to pass through body scanners without proper documentation and avoid identity checks. This raised concerns about airport security protocols.
During the flight, Dali moved between bathrooms and did not sit in her seat, eventually drawing attention from the flight attendants. She was reportedly causing a disturbance on the return flight, expressing her refusal to return to the U.S. and stating that only a judge could force her to do so.
A social media video recorded by a passenger shows the flight’s captain informing passengers that the authorities would soon remove Dali from the plane. The situation has led to questions about how she managed to board the flight undetected and what actions will be taken next.
