New surveillance video captures Svetlana Dali, a 57-year-old woman accused of stowing away on a Delta Airlines flight from New York to Paris, successfully passing through airport security before boarding.
The video obtained by USA TODAY shows Dali, dressed in a black jacket, grey hoodie, blue jeans, and carrying a brown bookbag, navigating John F. Kennedy International Airport on Nov. 26, 2024.
Dali, a U.S. permanent resident originally from Russia, is seen in the video going through a TSA screening machine and being patted down by an agent before bypassing gate attendants while walking with a large group of passengers.
"Delta agents did not stop her or ask for a boarding pass before she boarded the plane," according to federal charging documents.
TSA spokesperson David Fitz stated that Dali was "physically screened without any prohibited items" before bypassing identity verification stations and boarding the aircraft without a boarding pass.
Dali was arrested in December 2024 in Buffalo before attempting to board a bus to Canada. She has been charged with stowing away on an aircraft without consent and has pleaded not guilty.
USA TODAY contacted Dali's federal public defender but has not received a response.
When contacted by USA TODAY, Delta reiterated their commitment to safety and security in a statement from December 2024.
Dali admitted to intentionally evading security and Delta employees when speaking to FBI officials after being returned to the U.S. by French law enforcement in December 2024.
Passengers noticed Dali hiding in the lavatory during the flight, leading the crew to notify French authorities.
Dali managed to get past security by entering through a special lane for airline employees masked by a large Air Europa flight crew.
No trial date has been set for Dali, but court records show she must remain in Philadelphia, submit to GPS monitoring, a mental health evaluation, and surrender any travel documents.
Contributing: Gabe Hauari, Saman Shafiq, Taylor Ardrey, and Max Hauptman/ USA TODAY