Second Arrest After Escaping Monitoring
Svetlana Dali, a Russian national who previously made headlines for stowing away on a Delta Air Lines flight, was arrested again on Monday. This marks her second arrest in December after the FBI apprehended her earlier on December 4. According to law enforcement sources, Dali had cut off her ankle monitor on Sunday while staying with an acquaintance in Philadelphia. Upon discovering the severed monitor, the individual notified authorities.
An arrest warrant for bail jumping was quickly issued from the Eastern District of New York. By Monday afternoon, Dali was located and apprehended near Buffalo, New York. She was attempting to flee the United States by boarding a Greyhound bus headed to Canada. When law enforcement officers approached her and requested identification, Dali failed to produce a passport. Authorities then confirmed she was wanted on an open warrant and took her into custody. She is now set to appear before a federal magistrate on Tuesday.
The First Stowaway Incident
Svetlana Dali first caught the attention of authorities on November 26, when she was discovered aboard Delta Flight 264, which departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and was headed to Charles-de-Gaulle International Airport in Paris. Traveling without valid documentation, Dali managed to sneak onto the flight undetected at JFK. However, her attempt to enter France was unsuccessful.
The French Interior Ministry confirmed that Dali was denied entry into France due to lacking a valid travel document, such as a visa. Officials placed her in a waiting area until arrangements were made to return her to the United States. Although she reportedly held a valid U.S. residence permit, her unauthorized travel led to her eventual handover to American authorities upon landing back at JFK.
Repeated Attempts to Flee the U.S.
Svetlana Dali’s failed attempt to cross into Canada on Monday signals her second effort to leave the United States within a span of 30 days. Law enforcement sources say Dali’s pattern of evasion highlights a determined effort to escape U.S. jurisdiction. Her decision to cut off her ankle monitor and travel without identification underscores the seriousness of the charges she faces.
Following her re-arrest in Buffalo, officials are preparing for her upcoming court appearance. As the case develops, Svetlana Dali’s repeated attempts to flee the country continue to raise questions about airport security measures and the challenges of monitoring individuals awaiting trial.
