The FBI has arrested Svetlana Dali, the woman who boarded a Delta Air Lines flight to France without proper documentation, upon her return to New York, an official confirmed.
Dali arrived back at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday, flying Delta once again, but this time under escort by U.S. law enforcement, according to the TSA, ABC News reports.
TSA inspectors and other law enforcement officials were waiting at the gate to question Dali as she deplaned, the agency said.
Dali’s name, previously undisclosed, was confirmed Tuesday by her daughter and ex-husband. At the time of her return, authorities had not yet officially verified her identity.
Previously described only as a Russian national, Dali was caught traveling without proper documentation on Delta Flight 264, which was scheduled to fly from New York City to Paris on Nov. 26.
The French Interior Ministry said, “She was not admitted to French territory due to lack of a valid travel document (visa) and was placed in the waiting area for the time necessary for her re-routing to the United States since she held a valid US residence permit.”
Officials confirmed Dali is scheduled to make her initial appearance in Brooklyn Federal Court on Thursday. The specific charges against her remain undisclosed as of her arrest, leaving it unclear whether they relate to a civil case the TSA indicated it was preparing.
“TSA opens a civil case against any passenger when there is evidence that TSA regulations may have been violated,” a TSA spokesperson said in a statement earlier this week.
Delta Air Lines issued a statement following Dali’s return, thanking French and U.S. authorities for their assistance.
“Our review affirms that Delta’s security infrastructure, as part of our Safety Management System framework, is sound and that deviation from standard procedures is the root cause of this event,” the statement read. “We are thoroughly addressing this matter and will continue to work closely with our regulators, law enforcement, and other relevant stakeholders. Nothing is of greater importance than safety and security.”
Investigators are continuing to look into how Dali managed to board the international flight without proper documentation.
