The unique situation of the German national does remind us of the famous Tom Hank’s character in Steven Spielberg's The Terminal where he got stuck in New York’s JFK Airport after the passport becomes invalid as a result of civil war. The actor was forced to stay put inside the airport’s transit lounge, but the German national in question is stranded since he is alleged to have a criminal record as per the ANI report.
In fact, the authorities at the airport had made adequate arrangements for the German national Edgard Ziebat stranded at the airport. However, an investigation had been made initiated against the man. Ziebat was carrying visas for several countries and aviation security was keeping a close watch on him through CCTV.
He is supposed to have entered India from Vietnam on March 18 by Vietjet airline and was slated to take the connecting flight to Istanbul in Turkey.
He told the authorities that flights were not available because commercial flights were suspended due to the Covi-19 outbreak.
The airport authority had informed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) India and the Germany embassy about the foreign national.
It was then that the 40-year-old German national was persuaded to board a special flight to Germany operated under the German Embassy in Delhi, but both embassies and airlines declined to take him on board.
Not just German, but Turkish airline also refused to take him on board in the absence of Turkish passport.
An official informed the news agency ANI that the person being in the international transit zone, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) does not apply irrespective of whether a person is involved in any crime.
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