02/09/2026
This Man Was Trapped in an Airport for 18 Years and Couldn’t Go Home.
In 1988, a man named Mehran Karimi Nasseri arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. He hoped to continue his journey to England. However, a problem with his documents caused his plans to fall apart. Because of issues with his legal status and travel documents, he could not enter England, but he also could not easily return to his home country. Eventually, he remained in the airport terminal.
Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into years. For approximately 18 years, the airport terminal became the place where he slept, ate, read newspapers, and lived his daily life. His belongings were kept around the terminal seats, while airport workers gradually became familiar with him.
His story eventually attracted international media attention and inspired the film The Terminal. What is most remarkable is that he ultimately did not leave the airport because of the film.
This true story shows how a single administrative problem can completely change the course of a person’s life.
