In an astonishing breach of airport security, Svetlana Dali made headlines last year after she successfully boarded a Delta Air Lines flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) without a ticket.
The event has captivated the public, especially after a video surfaced, showcasing how Dali managed to navigate through various checkpoints at JFK, eluding authorities in the process.
The incident occurred on November 26, 2024, during the peak Thanksgiving travel season, a time when heavy passenger traffic often leads to lapses in security measures at busy airports across the United States.
As reported by CNN, this video, acquired from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, highlights Dali’s deceptive actions while maneuvering through the airport.
In the footage, Dali is seen confidently passing through the security checkpoint’s body scanner, where she undergoes the standard pat-down while dressed in a tan shirt over a grey hoodie and jeans.
However, her seemingly innocuous appearance allowed her to slip away unnoticed as she continued through the busy terminal.
Reports indicate that Dali first successfully evaded an airport employee stationed at the crewmember checkpoint and then bypassed additional stations where both her ID and boarding pass would typically be scrutinized.
At this critical moment, just before she entered the plane, Dali cleverly integrated herself into a large group of travelers, likely hoping to blend in with a family, thus masking her true intentions.
The second video shows her casually walking down the jetbridge in a jacket and backpack, with her gray hoodie pulled over her head, further obscuring her identity.
Richard Frankel, a former FBI special agent and current ABC News contributor, reviewed the footage and expressed his concerns.
“This was very unusual and disconcerting.
She just basically gloms onto the back of that group and goes in as if she’s part of a group,” Frankel stated, highlighting the significant security flaw this incident exposed.
The chaotic atmosphere during the Thanksgiving travel rush played a pivotal role in Dali’s ability to carry out her plan unnoticed.
Amidst the increased number of travelers, airport personnel, including security and airline employees, were likely overwhelmed with the sheer volume of passengers, allowing Dali to exploit the situation to her advantage.
Once aboard the aircraft, Dali’s behavior began to raise suspicions among the flight attendants.
At some point during the flight to Paris, crew members reported an unusual passenger who was observed moving between lavatories.
Upon arrival in Paris, the captain made a public announcement instructing all passengers to remain seated while authorities boarded the plane to address the situation at hand.
Dali was taken into custody, but her return journey to the United States proved to be more complex than anticipated.
She was initially placed on a flight back to the US but was subsequently removed due to causing a disturbance while en route.
Dali’s case aligns with several other incidents of individuals attempting to board flights without proper tickets or documentation, often fueled by either desperation or the thrill of an adventure.
For instance, on Christmas Eve preceding Dali’s flight, another woman was apprehended after attempting to board a Delta flight from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Honolulu without a ticket.
That woman was also attempted to engage in similar behavior shortly after her initial arrest, claiming she was at the airport to meet her sister, despite lacking any valid flight information or a ticket.
These bizarre attempts to infiltrate secure areas of airports call into question the reliability of security measures in place.
As airports continue to grapple with the complexities of handling overwhelming passenger volumes, the need for enhanced security protocols becomes increasingly urgent.
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