Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed

Mehran Nasseri who lived in Paris airport for 18 years dies

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Nov 2022 17:21
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Iranian Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who inspired Tom Hank's movie The Terminal, goes back to the same terminal only to die a few weeks later of a heart attack.

  • x
  • Iranian who made Paris airport home for 18 years dies.
    Mehran Karimi Nasseri

Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who was in a precarious diplomatic situation in 1988, settled in a small area of the Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport.

His experience inspired the 2004 film, The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks.

Although Nasseri eventually received permission to reside in France, he recently returned there and passed away of natural causes there, according to an airport official who spoke to AFP.

Nasseri, who first flew to Europe in search of his mother, was born in the Iranian province of Khuzestan in 1945.

After being expelled from nations such as the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany for possessing incorrect immigration documents, he spent a number of years living in Belgium. He then traveled to France and settled down in the airport's terminal.

Nasseri lived in the terminal from 1988 until 2006, first in legal limbo because he lacked residency papers and later by apparent choice.

“Eventually, I will leave the airport,” he told the Associated Press in 1999. “But I am still waiting for a passport or transit visa.”

Originally, Belgium granted him refugee credentials, through the UNHCR, but he said his briefcase containing the refugee certificate was stolen at a Paris train station.

Related News

Legal troubles worsen for Le Pen as French far-right struggles: FT

France announces State of New Caledonia, except with a twist

French police later arrested him, but they weren't able to deport him anywhere because he had no official documents. He ended up at Charles de Gaulle in August 1988 and stayed there for 18 years. 

Further bureaucratic bungling and increasingly strict European immigration laws kept him in a legal no man’s land for years.

When he finally received refugee papers, he was surprised and felt insecure about leaving the airport, so he reportedly refused to sign the papers and ended up staying there for several more years until he was hospitalized in 2006. Later, he lived in a Paris shelter.

He spent his days writing about his life in a notebook and reading books and newspapers while curled up on his bench, surrounded by trolleys filled with the things he had accumulated.

His story attracted international media attention and caught the eye of Stephen Spielberg, who directed The Terminal, starring Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Journalists flocked to interview the man who served as the inspiration for the Hollywood movie after its release. At one point, Nasseri, who called himself "Sir Alfred", was giving up to six interviews a day, Le Parisien reported.

He was given refugee status and the ability to stay in France in 1999, but he remained there until 2006 when he was taken to a hospital for medical attention. According to the French newspaper Libération, he then spent time living in a hostel with the money he received for the film.

Nasseri returned to the airport a few weeks ago, where he lived until his death, according to an airport official.

He was discovered with several thousand euros in his possession, according to the official.

  • Paris
  • Mehran Karimi Nasseri
  • France
  • Iran

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS