NEWARK- Serial stowaway Svetlana Dali reportedly evaded security once again, boarding United Airlines (UA) Flight 19 from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) undetected on February 25, 2026.
The 58-year-old Russian national with US residency reached Italy, where Italian police took her into custody after landing.
This marks her second high-profile international stowaway incident in under two years, following a November 2024 breach on Delta Air Lines (DL) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
Reported by PYOK, the latest event revives serious questions about TSA screening effectiveness and gate access controls, especially amid past federal funding concerns for the agency.
United Airlines Passenger Stowaway Case
Svetlana Dali boarded United Airlines (UA) Flight 19, operated by a Boeing 777-200, on Wednesday evening, February 25, 2026.
The aircraft departed Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) around 5:50 PM ET, crossed the Atlantic in just over 7 hours, and landed at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) at approximately 7:15 AM local time on Thursday, February 26.
The exact method she used to board UA-19 undetected has not been publicly disclosed. Law enforcement sources told ABC News that Italian police detained her after the plane touched down in Milan.
United Airlines confirmed the incident, stating: “Safety and security are our highest priorities. We are investigating this incident and working with the appropriate authorities.”
If her previous stowaway pattern holds, repatriating Dali to the United States could prove challenging once again.
2024 Delta Paris Incident
In November 2024, Dali stowed away on Delta Air Lines Flight 264 from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
She bypassed standard checks by hiding behind a group of pilots and flight attendants from a foreign airline to avoid the boarding pass verification that normally grants access beyond the TSA security checkpoint.
TSA maintained that Dali passed security screening like any other traveler and carried no prohibited items.
After clearing security, she waited at the gate until agents were distracted assisting other passengers, then slipped past them unnoticed.
The fully occupied flight left no empty seats, so Dali hid in the airplane restrooms for most of the journey.
Flight attendants grew suspicious toward the end of the flight, confronted her, and alerted authorities. French police met the aircraft upon arrival.
Dali attempted to claim asylum in France, but the application was rejected. Delta, as the operating carrier, arranged her return flight to the United States, but the first attempt was abandoned after she caused a disturbance before takeoff.
Legal Consequences and Flight from Monitoring
A US court initially granted Dali bail with the condition that she wear an electronic ankle monitor. Days later, she cut off the GPS device and fled on a bus from her home in Philadelphia toward Canada.
Authorities apprehended her at the border and returned her to custody while proceedings continued.
In July 2025, a Brooklyn federal jury found her guilty of stowing away; she received a sentence of time served. Dali appealed the conviction, but the appeal remains pending.
Renewed Scrutiny of Newark Airport Security
The latest incident intensifies criticism of security procedures at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
Questions center on how a known repeat offender passed both TSA screening and airline gate checks for an international departure.
A TSA spokesperson stated, “TSA is aware, and the incident is under investigation.”
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