Russian Stowaway STRIKES Again

A convicted Russian stowaway who cut off her ankle monitor and violated supervised release has brazenly exploited gaping airport security holes yet again, boarding an international flight without a ticket and exposing the shocking incompetence threatening American travelers under the Biden-era security apparatus.

Story Snapshot

Svetlana Dali, previously convicted for stowing away on a JFK-to-Paris flight, allegedly boarded a United Airlines flight from Newark to Milan without a ticket on February 25, 2026
The repeat offender bypassed TSA security and airline ticket checks, remaining undetected until the international flight was airborne or landed in Italy
Dali was on supervised release following her July 2025 federal conviction but had previously cut her ankle monitor and attempted to flee to Canada
FBI, TSA, and Port Authority launched investigations into the catastrophic security failures at Newark Liberty International Airport
The incident marks at least the fifth airport security breach by Dali since early 2024, raising urgent questions about enforcement of court-ordered supervision

Serial Offender Exploits Security Gaps Again

Svetlana Dali, a Russian national and U.S. permanent resident in her late 50s, allegedly snuck onto a United Airlines flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to Milan Malpensa Airport on Wednesday night without a boarding pass or ticket. Italian authorities took her into custody upon the flight’s arrival Thursday. The FBI’s Newark office confirmed an open investigation in collaboration with TSA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. United Airlines stated that safety and security are their highest priorities while investigating the breach. This brazen violation occurred while Dali remained under court supervision following her federal conviction.

Troubling Pattern of Airport Intrusions

Dali’s criminal history reveals a disturbing pattern of evading airport security across multiple facilities. In February 2024, authorities discovered her hiding in a secure bathroom at Miami International Airport, where she falsely claimed to have arrived on an Air France flight with no records confirming her story. Days before her November 2024 JFK incident, she accessed secure departure areas at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. That November, she boarded a Delta flight from JFK to Paris without a ticket, hiding in bathrooms and feigning illness before French authorities arrested her upon landing and extradited her back to the United States.

Violated Supervised Release Conditions

After her extradition, Dali was released on bail but immediately cut off her court-ordered ankle monitor and attempted to cross into Canada via the Peace Bridge in Buffalo. A Brooklyn federal court convicted her in July 2025 on stowaway charges, sentencing her to time served plus one year of supervised release and a $100 fine. During proceedings, Dali made unsubstantiated claims that she was fleeing U.S. military poisoning to “save her life,” which prosecutors dismissed as delusional. She filed an appeal in December 2025, currently pending in the Second Circuit Court with the government’s response due March 4, 2026. Her latest Newark breach demonstrates brazen contempt for judicial authority.

Exposing Critical Aviation Vulnerabilities

This incident spotlights catastrophic failures across multiple security layers that Americans rely on for safe air travel. Dali somehow bypassed TSA screening checkpoints, evaded airline ticket verification systems, and boarded an international flight without United crew members noticing until the aircraft was airborne or upon landing. These systemic breakdowns occurred despite her being a known repeat offender under active federal supervision. The ease with which she penetrated airport security for the fifth time raises serious concerns about whether TSA protocols and airline procedures adequately protect passengers. Law enforcement sources acknowledge that such multi-layered failures suggest fundamental problems requiring immediate correction to prevent potential terrorist exploitation of identical vulnerabilities.

Convicted Russian stowaway strikes again, lands in Milan on United flight without ticket https://t.co/tsUNt1UNoS

— ConservativeLibrarian (@ConserLibrarian) February 27, 2026

The broader implications extend beyond one serial stowaway. Airlines face substantial repatriation costs estimated at over $10,000 per incident, potentially driving insurance premium increases that burden travelers. Public confidence in aviation security erodes when convicted criminals repeatedly breach the same systems designed to keep Americans safe. The incident also highlights enforcement gaps in supervised release programs, where offenders violate conditions with apparent impunity. Aviation industry experts will likely recommend enhanced AI-powered gate scanning technology, improved crew training protocols, and federal no-fly list expansions for repeat security offenders. Short-term responses include heightened security checks at Newark and potential flight delays, while long-term solutions demand comprehensive reviews of TSA boarding procedures and supervised release monitoring.