Posted on 07/07/2020 12:41:07 PM PDT by Red Badger
A TOURIST is pleading to be rescued after spending more than 100 days living in an airport in a real life echo of Tom Hanks film The Terminal.
Roman Trofimov has been staying in the departures area of Manila airport in the Philippines since he arrived on an AirAsia flight from Bangkok on March 20.
The Estonian, who had been travelling around Southeast Asia, said his passport was taken before he went through immigration.
The airline was also unable to return him to Thailand amid restrictions due to coronavirus pandemic
He was denied entry into the Philippines as entry visas were no longer being issued for arrivals.
Roman was then caught up in the ensuing chaos and confusion - and left without anywhere to go.
And so ever since he has been living in the airport - with a total of 110 days between March 20 and July 7.
It echoes the plight of Hanks' character Viktor in the 2004 film where he is forced to live at New York's famous John F. Kennedy Airport after being denied entry to the US.
Hanks - a citizen of fictional nation Krakozhia - discovers his passport is no longer valid after a coup in his homeland.
And so has to make a new home in the transit lounge.
The tourist likened his situation to being a prisoner as he bemoaned his predicament.
He said: ''I've been stuck here for more than 100 days. I need help getting out.
"The airline said I need to wait for Enhanced Community Quarantine to be over before I am allowed to fly.
"I've been waiting here ever since.''
Roman had an onward flight to Cebu province booked for the same day on March 20 and a return flight to Bangkok for April 2.
Both were cancelled due to the virus impacting international travel.
The desperate tourist said he had asked his embassy for help but they were unable to organise a repatriation flight.
He has been sleeping in the airport departures hall and surviving on food and snacks donated by staff.
Roman added: "I am a person with disability, my health is getting worse because of malnutrition, lack of sun, and fresh air.
"I have no other choice, but to go public please share with news agencies."
Estonian broadcaster ERR reports Trofimov was travelling on a so-called "grey passport" for people of unclear citizenship.
Estonian authorities said the document is issued to people with residence rights in the country who cannot get another passport.
In a statement, the Estonian foreign ministry said: "It is important to note that he flew to the Philippines during a time when countries had announced emergency situations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had given a travel warning."
Coronavirus restrictions were implemented in the Philippines according to the risk level of a region.
The Metro Manila was under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) for a few months before it shifted to a lower level General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in June.
However, despite having a more relaxed guideline under the GCQ status, most flights are still not allowed to resume including going to Estonia.
In a statement, the Estonian foreign ministry said: “It is important to note that he flew to the Philippines during a time when countries had announced emergency situations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had given a travel warning.”
So in other words, he’s on his own.
Ouch.
Regardless of his bad choice to travel, I hope he gets home.
“Trofimov was travelling on a so-called ‘grey passport’ for people of unclear citizenship.”
Man, you’re just asking for trouble flying around the world with this in your pocket - I admit not finding a whole lot of sympathy here.
It’s shocking that this can happen in third world dumps! I’m surprised this even could be!!
Bureaucracies are the same all over the world. You could exchange every employee with their counterpart from another country and not notice any difference.................
You have no sympathy for someone whose citizenship is unclear? Why are you so heartless?
You have no sympathy for someone whose citizenship is unclear? Why are you so heartless?
I visited the Philippines twice, in 1985 and 2018. And my wife went there without me in 2008. On all of those trips, we entered and left the country through the Manila airport. If I had to get stuck in an airport, I don’t think I would choose that one. After all, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino was killed there when he stepped off his plane, and his assassination would eventually bring down the Marcos presidency. That’s why the airport is named after Aquino now.
On a positive note, the airport is one of the last places with a Kenny Rogers Roasters. Remember when that restaurant chain was in the United States?
I loved that movie.....LOL!
Life imitates art!....................
Their food is great and quite similar to Boston Market’s.
I used to eat there 2-3 times a week.
“”It is important to note that he flew to the Philippines during a time when countries had announced emergency situations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had given a travel warning.””
That’s precisely what a 10-12 year old would say OR a government employee. It’s not possible that the “warning” issued wasn’t known around the globe at the time? Why would the airlines have been flying there if it was known? This is where “the death of common sense” plays a role!! Something that isn’t common at all anymore!!
Someday we’re ALL going to realize that ALL the trouble making
communists, bureaucrats and powergasming hate filled Corruptocrats
ALL over the planet, are ALL “Karens” and “Chads”.
We must start keeping a MUCH closer eye on all the hateful Karens and
Chads, and pull them back from the brink of the Abyss, before they get
quite this far the next time.
And for GOd’s sake, stop voting for, or hiring them for ANYTHING!
(Until they Repent!)
~Easy
I think Kramer remembers the chicken. ....lol
Thailand???
(inside joke for older FReepers)
There was a guy stuck at LAX for awhile. He spoke a Very obscure dialect nobody could understand, which complicated things.
Lol, I am an old Freeper and I have the same reaction whenever I see Thailand in a post. My fiance is in Thailand and the COVID-19 nonsense has really screwed up our K-1 Visa plans. On the other hand, business at our cafe/coffee/Thai food shop has really picked up.
At least he’s not on the MTA. I wonder if the bookstore has anything by Kafka (if the airport has a bookstore).
Changi Airport in Singapore is where I could get stranded. Awesome airport.
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