A transatlantic flight bound for Detroit was forced to divert to Canada after United States border authorities refused entry to a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) owing to Ebola-related travel restrictions.
Incident Details
Air France flight 378 departed from Paris, France, on the afternoon of Wednesday, 20 May, en route to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. The eight-hour journey took an unexpected turn when the aircraft was rerouted to Montreal, Canada, after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discovered that a Congolese national was aboard.
US Entry Restrictions
The United States has implemented temporary entry restrictions for travellers who have been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days, amid growing concerns over a new Ebola outbreak in central Africa. These measures do not apply to US passport holders.
A CBP spokesperson stated: "Air France boarded a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo in error on a flight to the United States. Due to entry restrictions put in place to reduce the risk of the Ebola virus, the passenger should not have boarded the plane. CBP took decisive action and prohibited the flight carrying that traveller from landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and instead, diverted to Montreal, Canada. CBP, in coordination with CDC, is taking the necessary measures to protect public health and reduce the risk of Ebola disease introduction into the United States."
Passenger's Status
While the individual is a DRC citizen, it remains unclear whether they had been in the country within the past 21 days. The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed that the passenger, who disembarked at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, was assessed by a quarantine officer and found to be asymptomatic. The passenger was subsequently returned to Paris.
Air France issued a statement explaining that the diversion occurred at the request of US authorities "after a Congolese passenger on board was denied entry into the United States. 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."
Aftermath
The remaining passengers continued their journey to Detroit aboard the same aircraft after the unscheduled stop in Montreal. The incident has raised questions about airline compliance with rapidly changing international travel restrictions during health emergencies.
