An Air France flight was blocked from entering US airspace and diverted to Canada on Wednesday due to fears over a passenger's potential exposure to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. Air France Flight 378, originally scheduled to land at Detroit Metro Wayne Airport in Michigan, was rerouted to Montreal Trudeau International Airport in Canada.
US officials prevented the flight from entering the country after learning that a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo had been allowed to board "in error," according to a statement from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to 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 said. "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 operating in conjunction with Delta Airlines during the change in arrival location. Air France confirmed 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. An 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 Ebola outbreaks in Eastern and Central Africa have prompted government agencies to adjust protocols and restrict travel from individuals who have visited affected regions into the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented heightened measures on Monday, including enhanced travel screening, restricted entry, and public health measures to prevent Ebola from entering the country.
Wednesday's diverted flight occurred one day before a new DHS initiative was set to take effect, requiring flights carrying passengers from the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan to land at Washington-Dulles International Airport in Virginia, according to a memo reviewed by CBS News. These restrictions are expected to go into effect on Thursday, May 21.
The DRC currently has 600 suspected cases of Ebola, with 139 deaths attributed to the disease, according to Reuters. Fifty-one cases have been confirmed in the Central African country, and at least two patients in neighboring Uganda have also tested positive.
