List of people who have lived in an airport for more than one week
This is a list of people notable for living for periods of more than a week in airports. The reasons are usually protesting, asylum seeking or having difficulty with visas and passports.
List of residents
Currently in the airport
This is a list of notable people who have been living in airports around the world.
26 August 1988 – July 2006[1] Mid-September - 12 November 2022[3]
6518–6548 days (17.84–17.93 years) Up to 60 days on the 2nd stay.
Originally from Iran, was given refugee status by UNHCR and claimed that his documents were stolen in Paris en route to the United Kingdom. He was refused entry and declined new papers due to changing his own name and place of birth.[2] He became homeless again in 2022 and died later that year of a heart attack.[3]
Hospitalised, stayed in hotel by Red Cross and was then moved to Paris by Emmaus.[2] During his second stay, he died of a heart attack.[3]
Fleeing persecution in Iran with her family using falsified documents to seek asylum in Canada via Germany and Russia. The documents were rejected by German authorities and she was returned to Russia.[5]
In Kazakhstan, while registering intention to marry, his refugee travel documents went missing, and his Kazakh and Emirati visas expired. Later flew to Turkey in the hope of renewing his Kazakh visa, but was turned back at the border. Subsequently, flown back and forth four times and refused entry by either country.
Allowed to go to a UNHCR refugee transit centre in Timișoara, Romania, and later granted asylum in Finland.[11]
Arrived without passport because it had been confiscated in Turkey. After having overstayed during May 2013 in Malaysia, he had flown from Kuala Lumpur to Turkey, but without a Turkish visa. His passport was seized by Turkish immigration and he was deported back to Kuala Lumpur.
Released on 13 July 2013. Granted 30-days Malaysian visa on humanitarian grounds.[15]
Previously lived in the USA, and had been deported as a result of expiring immigration documents. Set up a temporary base in Schiphol Airport whilst attempting to get new immigration documents.
After a formal request to vacate was ignored, arrested on the 5th of January 1968.[16]
Began protesting after being refused re-entry into China.[17]
Visited by several Chinese diplomats and entered Japan with anticipation of being allowed to re-enter Shanghai by mid-February. This later occurred, although he is now under house-arrest at his Shanghai apartment.[18][19]
Khasan Aman Ando, Gulistan Issa Shakho, and four children
Family of Kurdish refugees fleeing the Iraqi Civil War who intended to seek asylum in Russia. After being initially denied entry into the country, they remained at the airport.[21][20]
The family was moved to a facility for temporary accommodation while they await further processing of their asylum application.[21][needs update]
Deported to Malaysia by the UAE, not wanting to be detained there indefinitely without formal charges. Was then denied entry at the Kuala Lumpur airport because he had no official documents.[27]
The Palestinian Embassy issued him a passport, and officials in Kuala Lumpur admitted him into the country.[27] He then left Malaysia for Norway, applying for political asylum.
Deported to Malaysia in 2017 after overstaying in the UAE for 5 years. During his stay, he saved money to buy a plane ticket to Ecuador, but was turned away by Turkish Airlines staff for unexplained reasons. He then attempted to fly to Cambodia after overstaying his Malaysian visa, but was denied entry and deported.
Briefly detained by Malaysian immigration authorities for two months until his asylum request was granted by the Canadian government.[34]
Were trying to seek asylum in Taiwan during their transit, but they were refused for entry while their asylum applications were being considered by Taiwanese authorities.[35][36]
Allowed to enter Taiwan on 30 January 2019.[37] Finally admitted into Canada in May and July, respectively.[38][39]
Expelled from Israel after being caught without proper documents. On his way back to Niger, he transited to Addis Ababa. Niger refused to let him in, claiming the temporary travel documents Israel gave him were fake. He got stuck in Addis Ababa, where neither Israel nor Niger would take him back.[40]
Ran away from family problems and worked at the airport for a while. Eventually became sick, and could not work anymore, but decided to keep living at the airport.[42]
Airport closed for commercial passenger travel in 2019, so he had to leave.[42] Now lives in Sabiha Gökçen Airport.[43]
Ran away from family problems and worked at the airport for a while. Eventually became sick, and could not work anymore, but decided to keep living at the Ataturk Airport. After airport closed for commercial passenger travel in 2019, he had been living in Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Prevented from embarking on the last leg of his flight when India imposed restrictions amid the coronavirus crisis. Refused German Embassy evacuation flights, fearing prosecution for criminal offences.[50]
Left on a KLM repatriation flight to Amsterdam.[50]
Prevented from embarking on a flight to Toronto after landing in Turkey due to US authorities alleging she was on the American No Fly List. The Canadian Government later revoked her refugee status.[57]
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