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A passenger previously convicted of sneaking onto a flight to Paris in 2024 has repeated the act after slipping onboard a 
United Airlines service from Newark to Milan earlier this week. The 58-year-old Russian woman, named Svetlana Dali, was apprehended after landing in Italy, with authorities eventually discovering she has previous for stowing away on commercial planes.
As per reports, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now investigating this incident to have a better understanding of this situation. The incident is concerning given the ongoing funding issues with airport staff, with many questioning how a passenger could repeatedly sneak onto planes.
From Newark To Milan Without A Ticket
As per reports from NBC News, on Wednesday, February 15, Dali snuck onto a United Airlines service to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) from the airline’s hub at 
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). She had found her way through ticketing agents, airport security, and the gate staff to get onboard a Boeing 777-200ER, bound for Milan, and was only discovered halfway through the flight, when the aircraft was well into its journey, cruising over the Atlantic Ocean.
At this point, turning back to Newark would have been extremely disruptive, operationally speaking. When asked about her ticket, the passenger reportedly pretended not to hear the question from the crew members. She was subsequently taken into custody by Italian authorities once the aircraft landed in Milan. United Airlines provided the following statement to Simple Flying regarding this situation,
“Safety and security are our highest priorities. We are investigating this incident and working with the appropriate authorities.”
Interestingly, This Is Not Her First Time!
As mentioned, the passenger involved is known to act in such a manner. Back in 2024, she was found to have boarded a 
Delta Air Lines flight from 
New York JFK Airport, this time heading for Paris, without a valid ticket. Based on the investigations and findings of the incident, it appears that the passenger was skilled at blending into the crowds, especially at major airports, which usually see a high volume of passengers rushing about the terminal. This was evident from video footage from JFK Airport, when she navigated through the airport undiscovered during the peak Thanksgiving travel period.
She was only discovered onboard the aircraft due to her suspicious activity and movement between aircraft lavatories, resulting in her being apprehended upon landing in Paris and flown back to the US shortly thereafter. As per reports from ABC News, in July 2025, Dali was sentenced to serve time for sneaking onto an aircraft without a valid ticket.
There are also reports that, on two separate occasions in 2024, the passenger was found to have gained access to secure areas of airport terminals before getting caught. The first incident was at Miami International Airport (MIA), and on the second occasion (two days before boarding the flight to Paris), she was found to have accessed secure areas at Bradley International Airport’s departure terminal.
Recent Stowaway Incidents Are Highlighting Aviation’s ‘Security Weaknesses’
Stowaway pose a a great level of risk to themselves and the aircraft. let’s talk about how these incidents are highlighting a security weakness.
Precedent Set, It Can Be Expensive Or Even Deadly
Security slip-ups can happen, and when looking at various incidents, two key points stand out. One is that sneaking onto an airplane without a valid ticket can be very expensive for that passenger, as seen in the case of an 
American Airlines passenger fined $60,000 for forcing their way onto an aircraft in Philadelphia in June 2024. Such strong financial penalties, along with criminal charges, should deter most people from attempting something like this.
The second is that there have been several incidents where stowaways have made their way onto aircraft, but not in the passenger cabin, such as landing gears. Unfortunately, in most situations, these stowaways were found to have lost their lives by hiding in places like the landing gear wells.
However, it is worth noting that this is more of a global issue, rather than just the US. In recent years, another airport that has seen a rise in the number of passengers attempting to fly out without valid tickets includes Zurich Airport (ZRH) in Switzerland.
