A Russian woman who successfully stowed away on a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Paris was arrested on December 4 as she was returned to the United States, the FBI confirmed.

 Svetlana Dali, 57, was taken into custody after being deported from France, where she had been detained following her stowaway flight.

Dali, who is expected to face at least one federal charge for unauthorized boarding, could face up to five years in prison. She is scheduled for her initial court appearance on December 5 in the Eastern District of New York.

Her ability to bypass multiple security checkpoints and sneak onto the plane has raised concerns about airport security.

On November 30, Dali managed to walk past security at John F. Kennedy Airport and board the flight to Paris without valid travel documents. She first bypassed the Known Crewmember checkpoint and then slipped through additional ID and boarding pass checks. At the gate, she blended in with a family group before boarding.

Once on the plane, Dali evaded detection by hiding in the lavatories, moving between them during the flight. After being caught, she was detained in Paris and later filmed pleading with flight attendants, insisting she did not want to return to the United States.

Dali was returned to the US after several failed attempts to send her back, including on Saturday and Tuesday, when she became disruptive and screamed for asylum. When her flight from Paris arrived at JFK on December 4, she was escorted by two security officials and remained on the plane while other passengers disembarked.

Delta Air Lines has reviewed its security procedures following the incident, acknowledging a deviation from standard procedures but not detailing the specifics. The airline emphasized that safety remains its top priority and is working closely with law enforcement and regulatory authorities.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is investigating how Dali breached security and preparing a civil case based on airport footage. However, criminal charges can only be pursued by the Justice Department.