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Tengrinews.kz – A Sudanese passenger has been trapped in Istanbul Airport for 41 days, unable to enter Turkey or return home, according to Turkish civil aviation platform Havasosyalmedya.
The case echoes the plot of the film The Terminal, in which a man is forced to live in an airport terminal for an extended period. But unlike the movie, the real-life story has yet to find its resolution.
According to the report, the man was traveling from Sudan with a planned layover in Istanbul en route to Damascus. However, flights to Syria were canceled, leaving him effectively stranded at the airport.
He does not meet the entry requirements for Turkey and reportedly lacks the funds to buy a return ticket. The exact reason for Turkey's refusal to grant him entry has not been disclosed.
What complicates the situation further is that Turkey’s Directorate of Migration Management has not classified the man as an “inadmissible passenger” (“inad”), meaning no repatriation procedure has been initiated. Meanwhile, the airline responsible for the flight has also refused to take him back.
Following media coverage, Turkish migration authorities have reportedly made contact with the passenger.
"We’ll continue to report on developments. It’s unfortunate that this individual was left helpless for 41 days, and action was only taken after our publication," Havasosyalmedya stated.
The incident highlights ongoing gaps in international air travel protocols and migrant protections, raising questions about airline responsibility and the humanitarian response to such cases.
