The Delta Paris Stowaway Incident Keeps Getting Stranger

The Delta Paris Stowaway Incident Keeps Getting Stranger

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Earlier this week, I wrote about how a Delta flight from New York to Paris had an unaccounted for passenger onboard (as first flagged by @xJonNYC). Amazingly enough, the plane made it most of the way to Paris before the crew caught on, so the traveler ended up being confronted by authorities upon arrival.

There’s now an interesting update to this story, as the same traveler was removed from a flight for a second time. Let’s recap the details of the outbound flight, and then talk about what happened on the return.

Delta flight from New York to Paris had extra passenger

This incident happened on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, and involves Delta flight DL264 from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG). The flight was operated by a Boeing 767-400 with the registration code N845MH.

At some point during the flight, flight attendants became suspicious, when they noticed one woman that kept moving between lavatories, and staying in them for a long time. As a result, the flight attendants notified the pilots.

After the 6hr49min flight, the plane landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport at around 11:45AM on Wednesday. Upon arriving at the gate, the captain made an announcement, asking all passengers to remain seated, as police boarded the plane:

“Folks, this is the captain, we are just waiting for the police to come on board. They may be here now and they directed us to keep everyone on the airplane until we sort out the extra passenger that’s on the plane.”



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— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 1:27 PM

Here’s the statement that Delta provided about the incident, confirming that the company is investigating what happened:

“Nothing is of greater importance than matters of safety and security. That’s why Delta is conducting an exhaustive investigation of what may have occurred and will work collaboratively with other aviation stakeholders and law enforcement to that end.”

Meanwhile here’s a statement provided by the TSA, confirming that a person managed to go through the security screening process without a boarding pass:

“TSA can confirm that an individual without a boarding pass completed the airport security screening without any prohibited items. The individual bypassed two identity verification and boarding status stations and was able to board the aircraft.”

This incident happened on a Delta transatlantic flight

57-year-old Russian woman was seeking asylum

When this incident first happened, there were lots of questions about who this woman was, and what her motives were for being on the flight:

  • In many developing countries, we see people take drastic and dangerous measures to be a stowaway, in hopes of a better life; however, for flights from the United States, that’s usually not the motive
  • Was it mental illness of some sort, and/or a game for the person? Some may remember the Bay Area’s “serial stowaway,” who obviously fit into this category

We’re now starting to learn more details. The stowaway on this flight was a 57-year-old woman who lives in the Philadelphia area. She’s a Russian national, but has a US Green Card. Upon landing in Paris, she requested asylum, though ultimately ended up being rejected. This was reportedly not her first time requesting asylum, as she had made a similar request in France years ago.

Traveler removed from return flight to US due to behavior

The traveler had spent three days in custody in France, at Charles de Gaulle Airport, given her (denied) request for asylum. On Saturday, November 30, 2024, she was supposed to be returned to the United States.

She was booked on DL265 back to New York, on a flight also operated by a Boeing 767-400, with the registration code N840MH. She was brought to the aircraft by authorities, but wasn’t going to be escorted back to the United States by police.

While she boarded the aircraft, she ended up being removed before departure, as she reportedly had a disruptive outburst, and refused to cooperate with the crew.

This must have been quite a messy situation, because the flight was scheduled to depart at 2:30PM, but only ended up taking off at 5:16PM, and it landed in New York over two hours behind schedule.

As of now, the woman remains in French custody. Presumably she’ll be returned to the United States, though the logistics of that remain to be seen.

This traveler is being held at Charles de Gaulle Airport

Bottom line

Several days ago, a woman managed to board a Delta Boeing 767 from New York to Paris without a ticket. The crew eventually became suspicious, when they noticed her repeatedly moving between lavatories.

The Russian national with a US Green Card requested asylum upon landing in Paris, and it wasn’t her first time making such a request. She was ultimately denied, and a few days later, was put on a Delta flight back to the United States.

Unfortunately that wasn’t so straightforward, since she had an outburst on the return flight, and refused to cooperate with the crew. As a result, she was removed from the flight, and remains in French custody.

What do you make of this Delta stowaway incident?

Conversations (60)
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  1. Exit Row Seat Guest

    Old military saying along the lines: "If its measured, its done."
    Have the DL executive who is responsible for stowaways deprived of his stock options and bonus for a year, and this will never happen again!!

    The sad part is how many have been stowaways and were never detected!!
    Take a guess who is sitting next to you or hogging the toilet!?! =:-)

  2. Mark Guest

    Send her back to Russia

  3. Miami Mike Guest

    (1) She should be jailed and sent back to Russia.
    (2) Delta is to blame for not securing the cabin pre-departure.

  4. Regular Flyer Guest

    This lady is a smooth operator. She sounds like a pro.

  5. Trump Bro Guest

    But to claim asylum you go through the port of entry and do it the right way! Can't wait for January 20th!

  6. JustSaying Guest

    Why not just put her on board and then halfway over the Atlantic open the door and give her a lifetime upgrade! You have a more efficient solution?

    1. Billby Guest

      Why return her to the US? So she can create more trouble? She is a Russian national, not a US Citizen! She clearly does not want to live in the US. Send her to Moscow! Are we all crazy here???

  7. Art Wadsworth Guest

    LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP!

  8. Andrew Guest

    You mean you cant just enter a country without the proper paperwork?

    1. UncleRonnie Diamond

      Correct. However it’s no problem on a Delta flight.

    2. TravelinWilly Guest

      “You mean you cant just enter a country without the proper paperwork?”

      No paperwork required when entering to apply for asylum; the paperwork is *after* one is on foreign soil.

  9. Troy Guest

    Feels like she might have had help from someone at the airport or the airline to be able to get past ID checks by TSA and at boarding.

  10. Peter Guest

    Send her back to Russia. She can assist in the glorious crusade of Tsar Vladimir to conquer Europe by not making the same mistakes Hitler did.

    1. Fed UP Guest

      Absolutely agree... she is a Permanent Resident (Green Card) - not a citizen... convict her of a felony and deport her now

    2. Miami Mike Guest

      So TRUE! you are

  11. ImportViking Diamond

    The premium gate agent let her slip through, while it took the premium cabin over half of the flight to finally understand that something was off and take premium action? They didn't check the premium toilets before departure? That's some wide-bodied, premium facepalm material to put on the balance sheet right there.

    I'm not sure if she's mentally ill or just a fortune seeker with no money who finally understood that the USA was...

    The premium gate agent let her slip through, while it took the premium cabin over half of the flight to finally understand that something was off and take premium action? They didn't check the premium toilets before departure? That's some wide-bodied, premium facepalm material to put on the balance sheet right there.

    I'm not sure if she's mentally ill or just a fortune seeker with no money who finally understood that the USA was a very poor choice to seek asylum in the first place, especially when compared to Western Europe. So of course she started a row when she got released on board on the flight back. It's her final chance to stay in Europe, after all.

    1. ExportViking Guest

      "'m not sure if she's mentally ill or just a fortune seeker with no money who finally understood that the USA was a very poor choice to seek asylum in the first place"

      ^ She is a Russian national and ...SHE HAS A US GREEN CARD.

      No need to 'seek asylum'

    2. OCTinPHL Diamond

      @ExportViking - You clearly are not an immigration lawyer.

    3. Fed UP Guest

      Show how much attention the Delta crew (US Airlines) even notice their passengers. Typical in-attention and lack of service on US based airlines... they FINALLY figured out there was someone there..... maybe after the third attempt to get a Coke they noticed her...

  12. Shane Guest

    She should be fined ithousands of USD for wasting passenger and airline time as well as being put on the NO FLY list

  13. Keith Guest

    This person is nothing if not wily, and she seems determined to stay in France. One wonders what her next move will be. Perhaps the French authorities will figure out a way to get her out, but the story continues.

  14. Maryland Guest

    I am surprised she was taken to the plane by police yet not escorted once boarded. I guess it's the honor system?

    1. Samo Guest

      Deportations for simple inadmissibility, overstays etc are always handled this way. Police takes the person to the plane, they will stand by the door until it's closed to ensure the person is not getting off. There's no need for an on board escort (which is quite complicated and requires a lots of resources), that's only provided for more serious cases.

    2. Maryland Guest

      Samo, she was a stowaway. A security risk. She was in jail 3 days prior to deportation. I can understand why France wanted her gone, but delta should have insisted on a safe arrangement. And indeed she did cause additional disruption. Clearly she justified the expense.

    3. Samo Guest

      I'm aware she's a stowaway but I don't believe she's a security risk, there's no indication of her doing anything even remotely violent or disruptive before this flight. What has happened is a normal procedure, and as much as you may not like it, that procedure being used proves it's what's done in these situations :) As for Delta insisting on something, they are legally required to take the passenger back, so they're not in...

      I'm aware she's a stowaway but I don't believe she's a security risk, there's no indication of her doing anything even remotely violent or disruptive before this flight. What has happened is a normal procedure, and as much as you may not like it, that procedure being used proves it's what's done in these situations :) As for Delta insisting on something, they are legally required to take the passenger back, so they're not in the position to make demands. If they felt the normal procedure was unsafe, they could've hired their own security and then sue the immigration authorities. Either way, I assume that escort will be provided by French police for the next attempt, but I also believe there was no reason to provide one on the first attempt. Someone trying to fly for free doesn't make them "a security risk".

    4. Six Guest

      Maybe the ruskies want her number. She probably pissed off putino

  15. Engel Gold

    I hope TSA heads roll at JFK.

    1. Dave W. Guest

      I hope it is fully investigated and changes are made as necessary, with any TSA agent having underperformed receiving appropriate disciplinary treatment.

    2. Maryland Guest

      Let's wrap her up as holiday gift. From the US with love!

    3. Mark Guest

      TSA’s primary responsibility is to screen for weapons and prohibited items. The woman went through screening and no items were found.

      She could have had a reservation for any other flight on a refundable ticket to make it through the checkpoint.

      DL agents let her board the flight without a boarding pass. The DL flight attendants didn’t notice a woman was on the flight without a seat.

      Most of us know where the majority of the fault lies.

  16. louiselikesmuffins Guest

    Isn't she Russian? Must be some sort of propaganda effort staged by Putin.

  17. UA-NYC Diamond

    Come on Ben, Timmy Done insists you pause on posting all other DL news to ONLY focus on new Austin (hypothetical) dominance.

  18. Never In Doubt Guest

    Mentally ill woman makes news. Again.

  19. David Guest

    Lucky: "and it landed in New York over two hours after departure." They must have made up some time in the air;)

    1. Allen Gold

      I guess they brought the Concorde out of retirement!

    2. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ David -- Hah, fixed, thanks!

  20. Icarus Guest

    If she has a US green card and is therefore permitted to live there, she has no right to claim asylum elsewhere. It would only be a consideration had she arrived ( indirectly) from Russia to France. Suspect mental health issues.

    1. Aaron Guest

      That isn't true. Anyone has the right to claim asylum regardless of their citizenship or residency status.

    2. OCTinPHL Diamond

      And you are clearly not an immigration lawyer either.

    3. Reed Guest

      She has the right to *ask* for asylum in France. She exercised that right! But France adjudicated her request, and determined she doesn’t *deserve* asylum, since she obviously has permanent residency in the United States and presumably no credible fear of living or returning there.

  21. NSS Guest

    I fly Delta out of JFK all the time. How do you get past TSA? There are the entry lines, the kiosks, the actual security lanes. There are dozens of TSA agents all over the place. How do you get past all of that?

    1. pstm91 Diamond

      The only thing I can think of is when it's busy, those lines can tend to merge together at the TSA verification point. Maybe she side stepped in behind someone else and dodged it? Considering she didn't have a boarding pass, that's all I can come up with. It sounds like a TSA officer, the Delta gate agents, and the FA's somehow all weren't paying attention.

    2. snic Diamond

      And THEN get on the plane without a valid boarding pass?

    3. UncleRonnie Diamond

      Inside job. Someone working in the airport helped her get through to airside?

    4. S_LEE Diamond

      Or maybe she booked a domestic flight to clear TSA screening?
      Most US airports don't separate domestic and international flights when departing, so it's possible to book q domestic flight and hop on to an international flight.. if only you can go through the boarding gate.

    5. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ NSS -- Just to be clear, she did go through security, she just didn't have her ID checked. The ID check would definitely be the easiest thing to skip, but still, it takes some luck/skill.

    6. Justin Dev Guest

      How can you go thru security without getting your ID checked? Isn't that the essential purpose of going thru security?

    7. James S Guest

      Skipping the ID check is probably pretty easy because the stations are close together, people crowd, and the TSA agent is frequently looking back to see if the x-ray is backed up. I assume she hung out between two stations acting like she was part of one group or another and walked through when the agent looked away.

      I would think getting on the plane is the harder part

  22. Eve Guest

    It is not unrealistic for somebody from US or with a green card to seek asylum in Europe. The social welfare support, even if diminishing considering how hostile European countries are turning towards migrants nowadays, are a lot better than even having full no limit access to US society. In many states you are very likely to fall out of system and the government would be least concerned to support you or prop you back...

    It is not unrealistic for somebody from US or with a green card to seek asylum in Europe. The social welfare support, even if diminishing considering how hostile European countries are turning towards migrants nowadays, are a lot better than even having full no limit access to US society. In many states you are very likely to fall out of system and the government would be least concerned to support you or prop you back up, this goes for states governed by both parties.

    Not giving excuses for whatever this situation is, but I can definitely fathom a situation where you would want to get out of US.

    1. Samo Guest

      While it's very easy to see why someone would want to migrate from the US to the EU for economical reasons (the number of people doing is increasing year by year after all), it is not a valid ground for granting asylum. You generally need to be in physical danger, persecuted or similar.

    2. Andrew H. Guest

      The concept of asylum has become completely distorted and no longer has any connection to its origins.

      It’s very Orwellian.

    3. ImportViking Diamond

      European countries aren't 'turning hostile' towards asylum seekers. It's your beloved USA where children get separated from their parents and put in cages on arrival. European countries still take tons of real refugees in every year, without questioning, and provide them with food and shelter. They just get a tad tougher towards fortune seekers who have limited to no chance of actually being able to take care of themselves or contribute in any way to...

      European countries aren't 'turning hostile' towards asylum seekers. It's your beloved USA where children get separated from their parents and put in cages on arrival. European countries still take tons of real refugees in every year, without questioning, and provide them with food and shelter. They just get a tad tougher towards fortune seekers who have limited to no chance of actually being able to take care of themselves or contribute in any way to society, due to decades of experience with the side effects of just blindly taking everyone in. Even Sweden has now gotten rid of the taboos about mass immigration and that tells a lot, given that Sweden might be the most politically correct country on the planet.

      A Russian woman who already has a green card in the USA? No chance. She's already provided with a place to stay in the West, though she chose poorly. I do fully agree that the US is much more of an 'every man for himself' society with no social cohesion and certainly no empathy towards newcomers when compared to most European/EU states.

    4. US legal immigrant Guest

      Wow that’s a lot to unpack here. From blatant lies about the way US treats bona fide refugees and asylum seekers I.e. legally crossing the southern border to the complete lack of comprehension how social programs work in the US. Not surprised though as this liberal trash spewed by a liberal trash is something we are used to by now.
      And before you even start your hateful tirade towards me - I am an...

      Wow that’s a lot to unpack here. From blatant lies about the way US treats bona fide refugees and asylum seekers I.e. legally crossing the southern border to the complete lack of comprehension how social programs work in the US. Not surprised though as this liberal trash spewed by a liberal trash is something we are used to by now.
      And before you even start your hateful tirade towards me - I am an immigrant who waited in line and went through the legal process to become a US Citizen…
      Stop these lies and crawl back to your mamas liberal basement

    5. Bubbajoned Guest

      Hate you? Why would anybody hate you? You sound wonderful.

    6. Justin Dev Guest

      @US legal immigrant:

      I find it hard to believe you’re being truthful. It seems most likely that you, too, crossed the border and used the system to become a legal immigrant. Perhaps we should have closed the door to you as well. What fascinates me is how some immigrants manage to sneak into the country, benefit from its liberal systems to gain legal status, and then turn around to criticize the very policies that allowed...

      @US legal immigrant:

      I find it hard to believe you’re being truthful. It seems most likely that you, too, crossed the border and used the system to become a legal immigrant. Perhaps we should have closed the door to you as well. What fascinates me is how some immigrants manage to sneak into the country, benefit from its liberal systems to gain legal status, and then turn around to criticize the very policies that allowed them to be here. They adopt conservative views—views that would have kept them out and may one day push them out—and even advocate for pulling up the drawbridge. It’s truly baffling.

      If this woman is struggling with her mental health, I sincerely hope she gets the help she needs.

      Regards,
      A USA Born Citizen

    7. US legal immigrant Guest

      You can believe in whatever you want. I didn’t “manage to sneak in to the country” my dear, I waited for over a year for my L-1B (you can educate yourself on what it is using Google), and then got my USC after following the lawful process of becoming a permanent resident and filing to become a naturalized citizen.
      I believe in law and order, and I love the US. being a “USA born...

      You can believe in whatever you want. I didn’t “manage to sneak in to the country” my dear, I waited for over a year for my L-1B (you can educate yourself on what it is using Google), and then got my USC after following the lawful process of becoming a permanent resident and filing to become a naturalized citizen.
      I believe in law and order, and I love the US. being a “USA born citizen” doesn’t give you any extra brain cells or a perspective on how people who lived in $hit holes like USSR under communism think or act. My views are in line with the majority of people of this great country. Have a great next 4 years snowflake

    8. Justin Dev Guest

      Ignorance, immigrant, is not bliss. Project 2025's plan is to denaturalize people like you and kick you out of the country. You are not as safe as you think you are.

      Regards,
      A USA Born Citizen

    9. Samo Guest

      @ImportViking: Your logic doesn't make sense. Asylum isn't for people who don't have a place to stay in "the West" but rather for people whose are in danger to their life, being prosecuted, etc. West has nothing to do with this. I can see scenarios where this person could be for example someone who provided inteligence to the US authorities and is now scared of being in danger after the upcoming change of government in...

      @ImportViking: Your logic doesn't make sense. Asylum isn't for people who don't have a place to stay in "the West" but rather for people whose are in danger to their life, being prosecuted, etc. West has nothing to do with this. I can see scenarios where this person could be for example someone who provided inteligence to the US authorities and is now scared of being in danger after the upcoming change of government in the US, as we know many Russia-aligned people are getting into high ranks. Since the French authorities have denied asylum, I assume it's not the case here (or at least they ruled the fear unreasonable), but you can see how a legitimate asylum claim could be made by someone resident in the US. This is really hard to judge unless we know what was the basis for the asylum request. As I wrote above, if it's merely economical reasons, it's a clear cut case. But it can be a lot of other things.

    10. Bosfor Guest

      Agree about the US, but are you not aware of a country called "Italy"? It's part of the EU.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

TravelinWilly Guest

“You mean you cant just enter a country without the proper paperwork?” No paperwork required when entering to apply for asylum; the paperwork is *after* one is on foreign soil.

2
UA-NYC Diamond

Come on Ben, Timmy Done insists you pause on posting all other DL news to ONLY focus on new Austin (hypothetical) dominance.

2
Andrew Guest

You mean you cant just enter a country without the proper paperwork?

1
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