A stowaway on a Russian plane who snuck onto a Paris-bound flight from JFK Airport was arrested Monday after attempting to flee the country again, sources said.
Svetlana Dali, who was released without bail earlier this month despite a history of being a literal flight risk, was caught trying to cross into Canada on a Greyhound bus from Buffalo, New York, law enforcement officials said.
Failing to escape, the artist allegedly cut off his GPS ankle monitor, a condition of his release, and fled the Philadelphia home of a friend he was supposed to be staying with while awaiting trial.
Dali, 57, then hopped on a Greyhound in Buffalo bound for America's northern neighbor. However, she did not produce her passport when asked, so police ran her name.
Officers took her into custody in West New York City after discovering there was an outstanding warrant for Ms. Dali's arrest for leaving the permitted range of travel stipulated in her release conditions.
Prosecutors warned the Russian-born man, who had attempted to hitchhike onto planes at other domestic airports before succeeding at JFK, was a “grave flight risk” at a Dec. 6 bail hearing. .
The Brooklyn judge who released her from custody even admitted that he was worried that she would look for a way to escape from the United States upon releasing her to the outside world.
“She remains concerned that she is a flight risk here. She has evaded TSA security twice,” Judge Joseph Martro said during the hearing. “there is no [community] Connect here. …We are in a dire situation. ”
Dali is accused of secretly boarding a Delta flight from Queens Airport to Paris on Nov. 26, avoiding airline officials who were distracted by vacationers.
She was discovered after her plane landed in France, then returned to the Big Apple, where she was met by police and taken into custody.
Dali had been staying with a church friend as part of his release conditions, right up until his attempt to disappear to Canada.
But even that friend was tired of her restless energy.
John Matthew, of Siluan, previously told the court: “I want her to stay here.” [my] I don't think she has anywhere else to stay, so I will go to her house if necessary.
“I don't mind her staying at home, but I don't want her to be legally responsible,” he says.
As part of his release conditions, Dali was not allowed to enter any airports. The conditions did not mention anything about bus stops.
The fugitive is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
