Airport myths
Airports are often the setting for strange stories and fascinating facts – but are they just urban legends or is there evidence to back them up? We’ve investigated some of the most famous tales to find out if they’re true or false.
A man lived at a Paris airport for 18 years
It may sound like the plot of a movie, but it is absolutely true. A man lived at Charles de Gaulle Airport from 1988 until 2006. Merhan Karimi Nasseri was expelled from Iran in 1977 for his political views. This left him without a passport and he travelled across Europe, attempting to claim asylum. Finally he was granted refugee status and was allowed to travel to England. This was in 1988 and he got as far as Paris, but his documents were stolen with his briefcase in the train station. He boarded the plane to London anyway, but was sent back to Charles de Gaulle Airport. He was initially arrested, but because he had no documents, there was no country to return him to.
He ended up in a legal limbo, unable to leave Terminal 1. Court battles ensued over many years, whilst the staff of the airport all got to know him and his regular sitting place. They even received letters for him. He lived on the generosity of staff and visitors who would give him clothes, meal vouchers and money for food. In 1999, he was finally given an international travel card and a French residency permit which would allow him to leave the airport, settle in France, or fly to any other country that would accept him. But after 11 years of living in the airport he seemed to be too scared to leave. In the end, he only exited the building when he was hospitalised in 2006. Afterwards, he was placed in a homeless shelter. His story has inspired many books and movies including “The Terminal” starring Tom Hanks.
STATUS: True
An 83 year old grandmother beat up 6 airport security guards
Security in our airports has been tightened in recent years, and this has led to delays and frustration for many passengers. With tensions heightened all round, we’ve heard many tales about rude, unreasonable and overzealous security staff. However, a rumour began to surface in 2002 of an elderly woman who had fought back against unfair treatment. A rough and overweight guard refused to let the woman on board unless she submitted to a search.
The 83 year old responded by running him down with her motorized wheelchair, before dealing out a series of blows to other guards who tried to apprehend her. One was hit with an oxygen bottle, one was stabbed with a knitting needle, one was set on fire with a cigarette lighter and another was punched in the face. It’s easy to see why this story about a ninja nana appealed, but it is not true. It was a fictional piece written by a man called Bob Wallace and posted on his website, before it was picked up and passed around by email, posing as a real anecdote.
STATUS: False
Denver Airport is a secret UFO landing strip, underground military base or civilian detainment camp
There are a lot of rumours around about strange goings-on at Denver Airport. Suspicions were raised right from the beginning. It was built in 1995, despite the fact that Denver already had an airport. The new complex had fewer gates and runways, but much more space. It was alleged to be an unsuitable location for an airport because of wind and terrain troubles, but apparently the new facility HAD to be built and HAD to be built in that position. Why, and why did they need so much space? It’s said that contractors were repeatedly fired during the construction, apparently so that none of them could get the “Big Picture”.
Supposedly, the airport has 8 sub-basements, and includes several buildings and a runway which were buried because they were “built wrong”. It also has several barren, fenced off areas with barbed wire along the top – facing inwards. Once the airport was complete, disturbing murals were painted on the walls, including African and Native American women lying dead in coffins, along with a blonde girl holding a Bible and a Star of David. Some say that they are Masonic symbols, Nazi propaganda or that they that hold secret messages about world domination. All very odd. But the conspiracy theorists argue about what it all means, so for now you’ll just have to make up your own minds.
STATUS: Not proven
Elvis landed at Prestwick Airport
Many Elvis fans will tell you he never visited the UK, but others claim he made a fleeting stop off at Prestwick Airport. The truth is that it did happen and this was the King’s only visit to our shores. He changed planes at the airport on his way home from doing military service in Germany, in March 1960. Sergeant Elvis was met by hoards of screaming teenagers. He posed for pictures and signed autographs before asking, “Where am I?”
He spent some time at the local NCO club and Teenage Club where they played his hit “Heartbreak Hotel”. The embarrassed superstar called for them to, “Turn it off!” On returning to the plane he said that he liked the idea of Scotland and he would visit the country again on a forthcoming European tour. But the tour never took place and Elvis would never return to the UK.
STATUS: True
Secret flights took Bin Laden’s family out of the US after 9/11
It is claimed by some that members of Osama bin Laden’s family and other Saudi Nationals were flown out of the US immediately after 9/11. This was said to have happened while a ban on air travel was in force, and before the FBI could question them. After the terror attacks, all flights were grounded and the ban stayed in place until 13 September.
During that time, only the military and specially authorised flights carrying medical supplies were allowed in the air. The 9/11 Commission established that there was no truth to the allegation of secret flights. All planes carrying Saudi nationals were accounted for, and they only took to the air after the ban was lifted. The passengers were all screened by the FBI and interviewed before departure.
STATUS: False
Picture Credits
1 - Saint Martin – http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficheiro:MKNasseri.jpg
2 – Tofu Photography – http://tofuphotography.blogspot.com/2008_06_15_archive.html
3 – Izakovic – http://www.deepspace4.com/pages/prophecy/denverairport/denverairport1.htm
4 – Rockmine – http://www.rockmine.com/Elvis.html
5 – Michael D Brown – http://michaelbrowntoday.com/journal/tag/homeland-security
We’d like to hear from you!
Have you heard any strange airport stories that you’d like us to check out? Got any other evidence to add to the cases we’ve looked at? Please leave your comments below.