A woman who stowed away on a Delta flight from New York to Paris last week has been released from custody after being charged in federal court, but with more than a dozen conditions. Svetlana Dali, a US permanent resident and Russian national, is charged with one count of being a stowaway on a vessel or aircraft without consent.
Dali appeared in federal court in Brooklyn Friday afternoon, where a judge detailed the conditions of her release without paying bail. She could face up to five years in prison if convicted. Judge Joseph Marutollo ruled Dali cannot go to airports, must submit to GPS monitoring, surrender any travel documents, and cannot leave the area where she is staying or facing charges. She must also abide by a curfew and be evaluated and submit to any recommended mental health treatment.
Dali, 57, will live in Philadelphia with an acquaintance from her church. The acquaintance told the court he was willing to let her live there as she had nowhere else to go. The judge raised concerns about releasing Dali, including her ability to travel without documents and no third-party taking legal responsibility for her, but her attorney noted she had family and a fiancée in Europe.
Prosecutor Theodora Brooke expressed concerns about Dali being a flight risk, citing previous attempts to stow away at airports. Dali had previously likened her offense to 'turnstile hopping' and noted that she did pass security screening.
Dali was arrested by the FBI upon her deportation to the US and appeared in court wearing prison garb and a hospital bracelet. She was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains. Now that Dali has been charged, officials are sharing a clearer picture of how she made the extraordinary journey, raising serious questions about airport security.
