A particularly explosive incident shook international air traffic at the end of November 2024: A woman managed to board a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Paris without a ticket or identification documents.
Svetlana Dali, a Russian citizen living in the United States, apparently took advantage of the increased passenger traffic during the Thanksgiving holiday season to secretly bypass several security checkpoints at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The case raises serious questions about airport security and screening mechanisms in international air travel.
Gained on board through a gap in the system
On November 26, 2024, Dali initially approached a regular security checkpoint but was turned away because she could not present valid travel documents. A few minutes later, she returned and used a screening lane reserved for flight attendants. According to the security officials in charge, she joined a group of Air Europa employees who apparently did not suspect anything. She passed through the security line without being checked again.
Once she was granted access to the security area, Dali went to a gate where a Delta flight to Paris was being processed. There, she joined a larger tour group—presumably a family—and boarded the plane without showing a ticket.
Unusual behavior on board
During the flight, Dali's behavior attracted attention. Cabin crew members noticed her repeatedly using the lavatories and switching between them. After consulting with the captain, they decided to inform the authorities at the destination airport, Charles de Gaulle in Paris.
After landing, the passengers were instructed to remain in their seats. French security forces boarded the plane and arrested Dali. Initial investigations revealed that the woman had neither a plane ticket nor a passport. She was questioned in Paris before plans were made for her repatriation to the United States.
Return flight with obstacles
Dali's repatriation to the United States did not go smoothly. She was boarded a passenger plane, but had to leave the plane again because of her conspicuous and uncooperative behavior. A later return flight was finally successful, and Dali was arrested again in New York.
In a U.S. federal court, she admitted knowingly and intentionally traveling without proper documentation. According to the prosecution, she faces up to five years in prison. The court also ordered a psychiatric evaluation because Dali had repeatedly made confusing statements in the past. Among other things, she claimed to have been poisoned in hotels and followed by intelligence agencies.
Authorities react with vigor
Delta Air Lines commented on the incident, calling it an "unexplained deviation" from security procedures. It is working closely with authorities to investigate the incident and learn from it. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stated that it is taking this case very seriously. It is an extremely rare incident, especially considering that millions of passengers go through airport security every day.
However, experts complain that passenger groups or uniforms can apparently be easily used to circumvent controls. Especially during travel periods with increased passenger volumes—such as Thanksgiving—there is a risk that control mechanisms will be placed under excessive strain.
A series of incidents?
This incident isn't the first of its kind. In December of the same year, another woman attempted to travel from Seattle to Honolulu without a ticket. However, she was discovered before takeoff. However, the same woman was apprehended again at the airport a few days later, allegedly trying to pick up her sister—again without valid documentation.
While such incidents remain isolated cases, they demonstrate that security measures—despite highly technical control systems—cannot completely eliminate human weaknesses. Security authorities announced that they will pay particular attention to the authenticity of crew access and group tours in the future.
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