The Iranian refugee who lived at Charles de Gaulle Airport for years and who inspired Steven Spielberg’s film Terminal has passed away. After a stopover in France, Mehran Karimi Nasseri was imprisoned because he lost his papers and only left the airport after almost 20 years. Just a few weeks ago, he voluntarily moved back to the airport with his belongings and eventually died there in Terminal F2.
His sad fate made Nasseri world famous. After a layover in 1988, he was not allowed to leave the airport’s transit area after he lost his papers and could no longer prove his refugee status.
Despite a valid visa, Nasseri continued to live at the airport
For years, Nasseri tried to get a visa in various European countries, but France only gave the refugee a visa in 1999. But the airport resident must have settled too well at the airport: he continued to live there in a niche under the airport stairs, which he had made comfortable.
It was not until 2006 that he moved due to hospitalization and then lived first in a house and then in a hotel, which he could afford thanks to the income he had earned from the Hollywood film. However, he was back at the airport only a few weeks ago.
Now the airport authority announced that Nasseri died of a heart attack. Police and a medical team could have done nothing more for the Iranian. Shortly before his death, he barely spoke and stared into space, airport workers reported, according to the newspaper “Le Parisien”.
The Iranian was played by Tom Hanks in the Hollywood blockbuster and the film was loosely based on the life story of the Iranian, who has now passed away at the age of 76.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
