Thursday, May 21, 2026 - An Air France flight was blocked from entering US airspace and instead diverted to Canada over fears of one passenger’s exposure to the Ebola outbreak in Africa.
Air France Flight 378 was scheduled to land at Detroit Metro
Wayne Airport in Michigan late Wednesday afternoon before it changed course for
Montreal Trudeau International Airport in the Canadian city.
US officials stopped the flight from entering the country
after it was revealed a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo was
allowed to board “in error,” the US Customs and Border Protection told CBS
News.
“Due to entry restrictions put in place to reduce the risk
of the Ebola virus, the passenger should not have boarded the plane,” a CBP
spokesperson told the outlet. “CBP took decisive action and prohibited the
flight carrying that traveler from landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Airport, and instead, diverted to Montreal, Canada.”
The Air France flight was flying in conjunction with Delta
Airlines during the change in arrival location.
Air France confirms that, at the request of US authorities,
Flight AF378 was diverted to Montreal Airport after a Congolese passenger on
board was denied entry into the United States,” and Air France spokesperson
told WXYZ. “There was no medical emergency on board, and like all airlines, Air
France is required to comply with the entry requirements of the countries it
serves.”
Ongoing outbreaks in Eastern and Central Africa have forced
government agencies to adjust protocol and restrict travel from anyone who has
visited the affected region into the US.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
Department of Homeland Security implemented Monday heightened measures,
including enhanced travel screening, restricted entry and public health
measures to prevent Ebola from entering the country.
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