Viktor Navorski, played by Tom Hanks, is a citizen of Krakozhia, a fictional Eastern European country. He arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City to find that during his flight, a coup d'etat has taken place in Krakozhia and that the United States does not recognize the new government, rendering Viktor stateless and stranded.
He is told by Frank Dixon, played by Stanley Tucci, the director of Customs and Border Protection, that he has to stay in the airport's international transit area as he cannot enter the United States or return to Krakozhia. Viktor is provided with a food voucher and a place to sleep in a lounge area.
Viktor's inability to communicate in English initially poses difficulties for him, but he learns to adapt and befriends several airport workers, including Enrique Cruz, played by Diego Luna, a baggage handler who lends him an abandoned luggage cart to sleep on.
Viktor also meets and is attracted to flight attendant Amelia Warren, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, and begins to court her. However, their potential relationship is complicated by Viktor's stateless status and inability to leave the airport.
Throughout the film, Viktor helps other characters with their problems and becomes a beloved figure within the airport, even earning the respect of Dixon, who initially sees him as a nuisance.
Eventually, Viktor's situation is publicized, and the United States government agrees to issue him a passport. However, before he can leave the airport, he receives a call from Krakozhia, requesting him to return and participate in the reconstruction of the country. Viktor bids farewell to his friends in the airport, including Amelia, and departs for Krakozhia.
