In February 2026, authorities apprehended Svetlana Dali, a repeat stowaway offender, after she allegedly infiltrated a United flight from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to Milan, Italy. This incident occurred on Wednesday evening, around 5:30 p.m. ET, when Dali managed to bypass ticketing agents and board the aircraft undetected. During the flight, crew members realized her presence aboard the Boeing 777-200, but by that time, the plane was already over the Atlantic Ocean. Svetlana Dali, a Russian citizen and U.S. permanent resident, previously faced legal repercussions for a similar offense in November 2024. In that instance, Dali accessed a Delta Airlines flight to Paris by concealing herself in a bathroom for several hours, ultimately impersonating illness to evade detection until a flight attendant intervened. Following this event, Dali was detained, brought back to the U.S., and released after serving time that was equivalent to the duration of her trip. Despite her earlier convictions and sentencing to time served for her unauthorized journey to France, Dali faced challenges adapting to legal constraints. She allegedly severed her ankle monitor to escape custody and attempted to cross into Canada. In 2025, she had been previously convicted of stowing away on the Delta flight, and in the days leading to her boarding the Paris flight, authorities had caught her trying to navigate secure areas in airports. The latest incident has raised serious concerns regarding airport security measures, especially as Dali managed to board the United flight without any boarding pass. United Airlines has stated that it prioritizes safety and security and is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding her unauthorized entry onto the flight. The Transportation Security Administration has also confirmed it is looking into the matter. Dali's repeated attempts to stow away highlight ongoing vulnerabilities within the aviation industry, prompting agencies to reassess security protocols and their enforcement in light of her actions. As of now, she is in the custody of Italian authorities, awaiting further legal proceedings.