An Air France flight heading from Paris to Detroit was forced to divert to Montreal, Canada, after U.S. authorities discovered that a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo had boarded the aircraft despite strict Ebola-related entry restrictions currently in place across the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the passenger from Congo boarded the flight in Paris “in error” amid flight restrictions tied to the Ebola outbreak. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed that the passenger “should not have boarded” the plane due to U.S. entry restrictions put in place to reduce the risk of Ebola spreading.
Flight 378 departed Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 3:42 p.m. local time on Wednesday, bound for Detroit, but was redirected and landed at Montreal Trudeau International Airport at 5:15 p.m. EDT. Entry restrictions bar non-citizens who have been within the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days from entering the United States.
Passengers on board described a tense and confusing experience. The captain initially did not explain why authorities were refusing to allow the plane to land in the U.S. About 30 minutes later, he returned to confirm there were no technical difficulties and that it was strictly U.S. authorities preventing landing. Flight attendants then began putting on face masks, which alarmed passengers already on edge.
Air France confirmed the flight was diverted at the request of U.S. authorities and stated there was no medical emergency on board. The current Ebola outbreak centered in eastern Congo was confirmed on May 15 by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization reported at least 600 suspected cases so far, including 139 suspected deaths. The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.
Health experts have warned that the decision to have flight attendants wear masks while simultaneously telling passengers everything was fine sent conflicting and alarming signals. Officials stress that the diverted passenger showed no symptoms of the virus.
The incident highlights how quickly the Ebola situation in central Africa is beginning to affect everyday life far beyond the continent, grounding flights and raising fears among travelers worldwide.
Is the world prepared for a potential Ebola spread beyond Africa, or are we repeating the same mistakes from past outbreaks?