Repeat Stowaway Detained in Italy After Newark Flight

Svetlana Dali, a Russian citizen and U.S. permanent resident previously convicted of stowing away on an international flight, was detained by Italian authorities at Milan Malpensa Airport on Wednesday after boarding a United Airlines flight from Newark Liberty International Airport without a ticket.

The incident occurred on United Flight 19, a Boeing 777-200 that departed Newark around 5:30 p.m. ET bound for Milan. According to law enforcement sources familiar with the matter, Dali bypassed airport security and ticketing agents to access the gate and board the aircraft. Flight crew members did not notice her until the plane was over the Atlantic Ocean, at which point they alerted authorities. Upon landing, Italian officials took her into custody.

United Airlines confirmed the breach in a statement, saying, "Safety and security are our highest priorities. We are investigating this incident and working with the appropriate authorities." Representatives from the Transportation Security Administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Newark, declined to comment but are reviewing surveillance footage to determine how Dali evaded detection.