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Two Men Spend 48 Days in Indian Airport
Two men from Bangladesh were forced to live in New Delhi's Indira Gandhi airport for 48 days. The duo left their homeland to seek employment in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, they did not have the appropriate papers to enter the country. So, officials confiscated their passports and placed the men on a return flight to Bangladesh with an intermediate stop in India.The weary travelers landed in the layover country, but upon arriving, they found themselves stranded since their passports were still in Saudi Arabia. The lost souls waited in the transit lounge of New Delhi's airport for the 6+ weeks until Bangladesh could issue them new passports. During their stay, the gentlemen often asked the airport cafeteria to give them work -- without payment -- as a way to pass time. How's that for boredom?
Forty-eight days may sound like an eternity, but Iranian refugee Mehran Karimi Nasseri spent an amazing 18 years living in France's Charles de Gaulle Airport. His story was adapted into the film The Terminal. It's interesting to note that Nasseri continued to live in Charles de Gaulle even after he was offered papers that would allow him to leave.
I can't imagine spending that much time in an airport. I can't even stand being in one for a three hour layover. I think I'd find myself coming up with games to play like "Switch Around the Luggage Tags at the Baggage Claim."
Filed under: Stories, Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, India, Saudi Arabia
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Justin Glow May 3rd 2007 4:49PM
I spent about 15 minutes in Indira Gandhi airport! Why can't they make a movie about THAT?
(worst bathrooms ever!)
shampa May 11th 2007 2:45PM
I am an Indian living in US ....someday I will build a great bed and breakfast place for stranded tourist who has no choice but stay in the airport for 48 days....the bed and breakfast place would be inside the airport ofcourse and funded by tourist like me and others ...so no cost to the stranded people like these 2 men....I feel so sorry for them, that too Indira Gandhi Airport? Thats just awful, its a double punishment...the stench there is so bad its traumatic enough being stuck but being stuck with such terrible odor ....well the govt is building a new Airport...hopefully they will finish well :) Welcome to India!!
Andy-jaya May 11th 2007 2:45PM
I had an 11 hour layover in Chicago's O'Hare and nearly died!
No one spoke English and there were no lockers because of bombs or something! And this was back in 1996! Scary, nasty place...
Christel May 11th 2007 2:50PM
I have to agree with you Andy-jaya. I am fortunate enough to travel to a very small fishing village each year in Mexico; which by most would be considered filthy. Funny thing is, it's when I land back at O'Hare airport, that's when I feel like I don't want to touch anything...go figure.
Rick May 11th 2007 3:48PM
Maybe that's why George Costanza refused to go the bathroom when he went to India for the wedding!!
maria May 11th 2007 10:49PM
Let me set this straight. "Normal" passengers do not have LAYOVERS! Only flight crews do. A layover is...crews laying overnight at a hotel.
Nisha8495 May 11th 2007 4:36PM
I feel so bad for them. For them to fly across the world and don't get the right of coming into the country.
Dee May 11th 2007 4:37PM
Okay, I've never had to wait that long in an airport. How is it though that no one speaks English in O'Hare Airport? Do you have the right airport? I don't think they speak anything but English as far as I'm concerned.
GigiNMexico May 11th 2007 4:39PM
Christel, kinda off the subject, but I live in a small fishing village in Mexico...which one do you go to??? I am formally from the US.
ditzybrunette15 May 11th 2007 5:28PM
O.k. I have traveled alot and normal people do have layovers. I was in Frankfurt Germany for four hours and it has horrible bathrooms and rude workers. Out of all the airports I have been to, which I have been to many, O'hare is actually one of the best, this is just my opinion so no one bite my head off..
Cher May 11th 2007 5:14PM
Lay-over this...........lmfao Cher
gee May 11th 2007 5:45PM
goodness Flight attendant have to be so particular about it. People who fly, no very well what it means to have a layover. It means to have your flight stop and you get off the plane and wait for another flight. Whether it's a 15 mintue stop or 3 hours or a 24 hr.
idiot
lay over
To make a stopover in the course of a journey.
TheCAGE May 11th 2007 6:04PM
I have a friend of mine who owns his own little four passenger prop plane and any time I need to travel, I contact him and have him fly me, and guess what, NO LAYOVERS. Its GREAT!!!
ericsmusclecars May 11th 2007 6:53PM
India for 48 days......I don't think so....P U
www.ericsmusclecars.com
Chris May 11th 2007 7:02PM
Try spending 8 hours in the Manila Airport check-in area because you are not allowed in the airport area until about 2 hours before check-in. The shopping area of the airport is closed at night, there is one small food counter that closes at 9:00pm and no public CR (Toilet) in that area. Once you enter the Pre-check-in area you are not allowed to exit the airport. (I am still confused about that) Once I did check in the bording area was closed until 30 minutes before boarding for a flight out of the country.
pd39 May 11th 2007 7:06PM
Worst airport on earth - Toronto. Came in from Korea, had to go thru customs and catch a flight to LAX. A 747-400 with about 450 souls on board. ONE BATHROOM BETWEEN ARRIVAL GATES AND CUSTOMS! AND IT WAS A TWO HOLER!!!.
Edna May 11th 2007 7:50PM
Ok..............I go along with you. I have never stayed in an airport that long either, but O'Hare, in Chicago.... the middle of the U.S.A. English is spoken everywhere in O'Hare.
Eddie Lucas May 11th 2007 8:02PM
Airline travel is not safe anyway, regardless of the propaganda.
Julie May 11th 2007 11:11PM
I was stuck in the JFK airport in february during the big ice storm problem it was hell!!!!! I couldnt imagine 48 days I was stuck for 4 and I was in shambles.
travelsalot May 11th 2007 8:42PM
Ok, Maria, what do you, the almighty "flight crew" call a 4 hour break between flights for the "normal" person? It's a LAYOVER! And do you think because "flight crew" and the airlines use abbreviated codes for cities, us "normal" people aren't supposed to know those either? Have you never heard a "normal" person call the LA airport LAX? Does that bother you too?! Maybe you should stick to handing out peanuts and not try to sound smarter than the "normal" people with your "flight crew" terminology.