10 People Who Lived In Airports

If you've ever been stuck in an airport for a long layover you'll know how uncomfortable and frustrating it can be. Spare a thought for these poor folk who spent a hefty chunk of their lives living in airport terminals.

1. Edward Snowden

Unless you've abandoned the internet in light of Edward Snowden's revolution that the NSA is monitoring your every move, you'll know that he's been well accustomed with inter national airports, namely Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport in Russia.

As a fugitive on the run from the USA Snowden has played one of the most public games of hide and seek in the history of everything. Landing on Russian soil on June 25th 2013 Snowden is reported as stranded in the transit lounge of the airport on account of his passport being withdrawn by US officials. Russian President Putin finally allowed Snowden to enter Russia with temporary asylum on August 1st 2013.

2. Mehran Karimi Nasseri

While we've all been following the story of Snowden's six week layover in Moscow, it's got nothing on Iranian refugee Mehran Karimi Nassini who spent an incredible 17 years living in the departure lounge of Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport.

On being permanently expelled from his native Iran, Sir Mehran planned to vacate to the UK for a lifelong holiday but somehow misplaced his travel documents during the journey. Sent back to the border in France, the French initially arrested him before deciding that his entering the country was entirely cool, but with no country of origin to return to and no onward plans, Nassiri was forced to spend the next 18 years of his life living in the airport where he spent his time reading and learning economics. He survived on handouts of food from airport staff and was the inspiration for the movie The Terminal starring Tom Hanks.

3. Zahara Kamalfa

Russia's Sheremetyevo Airport has a short history of housing country-less refugees – in 2006, almost seven years before Snowden made it his home, Iranian refugee Zahra Kamalfa arrived with her two children and they remained there for ten months.

Having fled Iran after her husband was executed in Iranian custody, Kamalfa took a series og flight to Turkey, Russia and Germany in a bid to get to Canada where she planned to claim asylum. On arriving in Germany the authorities sent her back to Russia where they were initially held in a hotel before being returned to the airport. A ten month stay at the airport began until the family were allowed to enter Canada as political refugees.

4. Hirosha Nahara

So you can't claim to have been to a country if you never left the airport but what if you spend four months there, learn a little of the language, and become a local TV celebrity?

Hiroshi Nohara arrived at Mexico City's Benito Juaraz International Airport with both permission to enter Mexico and a return travel ticket. After Mexican authorities became suspicious of his extended stay they asked the Japanese Embassy to investigate why Nohara had chosen to stay in the airport. A translator was brought in to investigate and Hohara was quoted as saying 'I don't understand why I'm here, I have no answer for that.'

5. Sanjay Shah

Former Kenyan national Sanjay Shah sure was keen to live in the UK – in 2004 he gave up his Kenyan passport in order to travel to the UK on a British Overseas Citizens' passport which allows temporary entry to the UK but not permanent residence.

When UK officials turned him back at the border on a flight bound for Nairobi Airport, Shah began what was to be a 13 month protest which would take place between the departure lounge and immigration desk of the airport. In July 2005 he was eventually awarded British Citizenship and a passport which allowed him to travel to the UK and reside permanently.

6. Feng Zhenghu

Chinese national Feng Zhenghu became a thorn in the side for the Chinese government when he criticized them for hindering democracy in Chinese society. Though he paid for his crime with an eight year prison sentence, China weren't keen on readmitting him to the country after a visit to Japan in 2009.

The refusal was the beginning of a ping-pong of flights between Shanghai and Tokyo. On four occasions he was prevented from boarding China bound flights and on the four occasions he did manage to sneak past officials, he was flown right back to Tokyo. Between November 4th 2009 and February 3rd 2010 Zhenghu lived Terminal 1 at Narita Airport when he entered Japan on a tourist visa. Nine days later, on February 12th he successfully flew into Shanghai and was allowed to enter China.

7. Gary Peter Austin

When Briton Gary Peter Austin popped off to the Philippines for a short break, it turned out to be a slightly longer and more uncomfortable sojourn than he'd first imagined. After turning up at Manila's Naia Airport two days late for his flight he was stranded there penniless and without a return ticket.

While 22 days at an airport might be at the shorter end of the scale, Austin was still around long enough to become a point of interest for airport staff who befriended him and provided him with food and treats to make hos stay more comfortable. After returning to the Gulf Air office to contact the British Embassy Austin was rescued by the consulate who helped him to book a flight back to the UK.

8. Heinz Muller

Associated Press / Via smh.com.au

It isn't always political dissidence or lack of travel documents that forces a man to live in an airport. German man Heinz Muller was stuck in a rut when he flew into Brazil's Campinas airport to meet a love interest who promptly dumped him.

After meeting the Brazilian woman on the internet Muller flew out to meet her, arriving in Brazil on November 9th 2009 and spend 13 days camping out at the airport. Muller did not leave the airport until, on the 13th day, he was taken to a local hospital for psychological analysis.

9. Ahmed Kamman

Via thestar.com.my

Palestinian national Ahmen Kammen became part of the scenery at Kuala Lumpur International Airport during his 54 day stay there in 2012. Kammen who arrived at the Malaysian airport on November 24th had a valid tourist visa for Malaysia but was refused entry on the grounds that he had overstayed on a previous visit.

It was not Kammen's first experience of being turned back at a border having already been refused entry to Laos and Turkey; he was returned to Malaysia on both occasions. After his latest 50 day stint at KLIA he was given a 30 day Malaysian visa and handed over to the care of the Palestinian Embassy.

10. Mohammed Al Bahish

Via bbc.co.uk

Iraqi born Palestinian refugee Mohammed Al Bahish was hoping to start a new life with his lover when he boarded a flight to Kazakhstan but instead his stay at the country has been confined to the 'sterile area' at Astana International Airport.

Al Bahish has no visa to enter the country but neither does he have permission to enter any other country, with Israel reportedly denying him a right to travel to Palestinian territories. While his lover is pregnant with his baby, Al Bahish is confined to a small room at the airport and his lengthy stay is not likely to end any time soon.