Article: The MAG: REAL LIFE: My no fly zone; In new movie The Terminal, Tom Hanks plays a man trapped in an airport because of a passport wrangle. LORNE JACKSON checks in to check out what it's like to live at Birmingham International.(Features)

Byline: LORNE JACKSON

SUNDAY MERCURY, AUGUST 29, 2004 31IT seems far-fetched but Stephen Spielberg's new movie Terminal is based on a true story.

In 1988 Iranian refugee Merhan Nasseri landed at Charles De Gaulle Airport, near Paris. He was told he couldn't fly to Britain because his passport and United Nations refugee certificate had been stolen.

To make matters worse, the French authorities wouldn't let him leave the airport either, so he was forced to live in Terminal One.

Since then he has been granted permission to enter France - but ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!