The movie "Terminal" in the reality version: Roman Tropimov wanted to return from Thailand to his native Estonia, but had to live for three months in the Middle East because of the closure
How would you get in the terminal for three months? In the photo: Ben Gurion Airport
Photo:
Yossi Seliger
When reality becomes more absurd than a Hollywood movie: Roman Tropimov just wanted to get home to Estonia from Bangkok's capital of Thailand. More than three months ago, on March 20, Roman departed from Thailand and landed at Manila Airport, the capital of the Philippines, but just then the Philippines was declared an emergency because of the Corona virus that prevented tourists from entering the country and banned aircraft landing in the country. The situation meant that Tropimov could not, on the one hand, sign a passport and continue to his homeland Estonia, and on the other he "got stuck" in Sderot without being able to return to Thailand as all flights were stopped.
That left him unlucky guy with little equipment, no clothes and food, in Manila's field for no less than 110 days. The situation ironically reminded of the Hollywood movie starring Tom Hanks, "Terminal", which played a "stuck" character in the field "New York City is unable to get out of bounds.
How's life in the US for more than three months? Tropimov told Fox News that it was based on food donations from the airport staff, which provided him with sandwiches and bedding. During this time, Tropimov slept on the terminal floor. At the same time, he contacted the United States Embassy In the Philippines, however, embassy officials were unable to assist their state and only responded to media outlets interested in his situation because "we warned him before leaving for the Far East that the situation was unstable and could end in closure."
As he approached the embassy, Tropimov posted a series of requests for help on Facebook, updating his many followers as he went along.
Just three days ago, on July 7, the absurd saga came to an end when Tropimov posted a video of him sitting in a plane taking him back to his country after the restrictions on the Corona virus were lifted in the Philippines.