Svetlana Dali, a 57-year-old Russian national, is currently being held by authorities and is expected to be extradited to Connecticut after repeatedly stowing away on several international flights. In her most recent stowaway attempt, Dali reportedly hopped onto a flight in New York destined for Paris without a passport or boarding pass.

Dali was discovered aboard the flight to Paris by Delta crew members. She was reportedly hiding in the plane’s bathroom for hours and wasn’t discovered until the plane was nearing its destination. When the crew members realized Dali didn’t have an assigned seat or a boarding pass, they became suspicious.

When the plane landed, Delta crew members alerted local authorities who refused to admit her into the territory due to a lack of valid travel documents. She was rerouted back to the United States, where she was immediately met by FBI agents.

The FBI began investigating the situation, and they were shocked at the details that emerged. Investigators discovered that on November 24, 2024, Dali somehow sneaked through security checkpoints at Bradley International Airport by hiding among other passengers. While she wasn’t able to board a plane, her actions were still concerning.

Two days after this incident, she attempted the same move at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. This attempt was successful, and she boarded the flight for Paris. These were likely not the only attempts Dali made at stowing away, though. Investigators also discovered that she was found hiding in a secured area of Miami International Airport in the bathroom by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in February of 2024.

In a strange twist, Dali has been pleading with her legal advisors, prosecutors, and the judge to hear and believe her story. According to Dali, she stowed away on several flights in order to save her life. She has repeatedly stated that she believes unknown individuals have been poisoning her for years.

Dali was initially released after her arrest, but authorities quickly re-apprehended her after she attempted to cut off her electronic monitor. Police also discovered Dali attempting to illegally cross the border into Canada to potentially evade criminal prosecution.

In July, Dali was sentenced to time already served for her illegal Paris ride, but she isn’t out of trouble, yet. She will be extradited to Connecticut to face another felony stowaway charge that could result in an additional five years behind bars. So far, she has served seven months in federal lockup in Brooklyn.

Could You Face Extradition?

If you potentially have warrants out for your arrest in other states or other states have open investigations that involve you, then expect those problems to pop up if you ever face criminal charges. In most cases, you will go through your sentencing requirements and then get transferred to the county jail that’s seeking out additional charges against you. Extradition is not automatic, though.

To learn more about your legal rights in this type of situation, it’s best to contact an attorney. Call our team here at Bukh Law Firm, PLLC now at (718) 797-1961 to get started.