In a bizarre incident that has drawn widespread attention, a woman managed to sneak onto a flight from New York to Paris without a boarding pass late last year. Recent surveillance footage, obtained by The Associated Press through a records request from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has shed new light on the audacious maneuver employed by Svetlana Dali, revealing how she successfully circumvented airport security protocols.

The footage shows Dali, a 57-year-old Russian citizen with U.S. residency, slipping past two gate agents who were diligently checking boarding passes as she mingled with a group of ticketed passengers. This clever tactic allowed her to access the airbridge leading directly to the plane, evading detection entirely.

In November 2022, Dali's attempt to board the Delta Air Lines flight to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris began when she was initially turned away from a security checkpoint at John F. Kennedy International Airport. According to court documents, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent refused her entry because she could not present a valid boarding pass. However, Dali's determination did not end there.

Instead of giving up, Dali cleverly disguised her intentions by sneaking into a restricted security lane meant for airline employees. Masked by the presence of a large group of Air Europa flight crew members, she managed to blend in and gain entry to a screening area, where TSA agents were inspecting luggage and conducting pat-downs. Another surveillance clip shows Dali undergoing this security screening without raising any alarms.

Once cleared, Dali made her way to the Delta flight, where she was seen on video at the gate. Sporting a gray hood that obscured her face and carrying a bag draped over her left arm along with an oversized backpack, she approached the boarding area amidst genuine ticketed passengers. The footage reveals that Dali successfully slipped past two Delta staff members who were checking boarding passes, who appeared oblivious to her unauthorized presence.

It was only after the plane took off that Delta crew members discovered Dali was on board without a ticket. Once alerted, they promptly notified French authorities, who detained her upon landing, preventing her from entering customs. Court documents indicate that during subsequent questioning, Dali admitted to boarding the flight intentionally without a ticket, explicitly stating that she had evaded security measures as well as Delta employees to avoid purchasing a fare.

After her arrest, Dali was initially released with electronic monitoring as she awaited trial. However, her legal troubles escalated when she was apprehended again in Buffalo, New York. She had removed the monitoring device and attempted to cross into Canada, leading to her re-arrest. Currently, Dali is being held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn as she awaits the next steps in her legal proceedings.

As Dali's trial approaches, which is set to begin next month, both prosecutors and her legal team are reportedly in discussions to reach a potential plea deal. Her attorney did not respond to requests for comment on the matter as of Wednesday.