Convicted stowaway arrested again after alleged ticketless flight to Italy

Svetlana Dali, who was previously convicted of stowing away on a flight to Paris, is accused of sneaking onto a flight from Newark to Milan.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A woman on probation for stowing away on an international flight has been arrested again after allegedly sneaking onto a flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Milan, Italy, according to a law enforcement official. Svetlana Dali, a Russian citizen with U.S. residency, was convicted in 2024 for flying to Paris without a passport or ticket and was still on supervised release when she was taken into custody at Milan's Malpensa Airport on Thursday.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges airports and airlines face in preventing stowaways, as well as the potential risks to public safety and security when individuals are able to bypass security measures. Dali's history of evading detection at multiple airports raises concerns about vulnerabilities in the system.

The details

According to the law enforcement official, Dali was on probation for her previous stowaway conviction when she allegedly sneaked onto the flight from Newark to Milan. Authorities say Dali has a history of evading security at airports, including incidents at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut, and Miami International Airport.

  • In May 2025, Dali was convicted of stowing away on a flight from New York to Paris.
  • Last July, Dali was sentenced to time served and placed on one year of supervised release.
  • On February 27, 2026, Dali was arrested at Milan's Malpensa Airport after allegedly sneaking onto the flight from Newark.

The players

Svetlana Dali

A Russian citizen with U.S. residency who was convicted in 2024 for stowing away on a flight from New York to Paris and has now been arrested again for allegedly sneaking onto a flight from Newark to Milan.

Michael K. Schneider

Dali's federal defender who was also handling her appeal of the prior charges.

Emily Molinari

An FBI spokesperson who said the agency's Newark office was 'aware of the alleged stowaway' and is working with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Transportation Security Administration on the investigation.

United Airlines

The airline that operated the flight from Newark to Milan on which Dali is accused of stowing away.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The agency that operates Newark Liberty International Airport, where Dali allegedly boarded the flight to Milan.

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What’s next

Prosecutors are expected to file new charges against Dali for the alleged stowaway incident on the flight from Newark to Milan. The judge in the case will also decide whether to revoke Dali's probation from her previous conviction.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing security challenges airports and airlines face in preventing stowaways, as well as the potential risks to public safety when individuals are able to bypass security measures. It raises questions about the effectiveness of probation and supervision for individuals with a history of such offenses.