The Man Who Was Stuck in an Airport for 18 Years. Mehran Karimi Nasser (born 1946), also known as Sir Alfred Mehran, is an Iranian refugee who lived in the departure lounge of Terminal One in Charles de Gaulle Airport from August 26, 1988, until July 2006 when he was hospitalized. His autobiography was published as a book, The Terminal Man, in 2004. Nasseri's story inspired the 2004 film, The Terminal.
Nasser alleges that he was expelled from Iran in 1977 for protesting against the Shah. After a long battle, involving applications in several countries, he was granted refugee status by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Belgium. This allegedly allowed him to reside in many other European countries. However, this claim has been disputed, as investigations have shown that Nasser was never expelled from Iran.
Having one British parent, he decided in 1986 to settle in the UK. However, while en route to the UK in 1988, his papers were lost when his briefcase was allegedly stolen. Some sources indicate that Nasser actually mailed his documents to Brussels while onboard a ferry to Britain and lied about them being stolen. Despite this setback, he boarded the plane for London but was promptly returned to France when he failed to present a passport to British immigration officials. He was initially arrested by the French but then released since his entry to the airport was legal, and he had no country of origin to be returned to. Thus began his residence at Terminal 1.