An Air France flight from Paris to Detroit was diverted to Montreal on Wednesday after U.S. authorities identified a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo on board and enforced Ebola-related travel restrictions.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed the passenger “should not have boarded the plane” because of entry restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the Ebola virus. The passenger was boarded “in error,” according to a CBP spokesperson. The agency did not specify when the individual had last been in Congo.
Air France said the diversion to Montreal Trudeau International Airport was “at the request of U.S. authorities” and clarified that there was “no medical emergency on board.” Flight tracking data showed the flight landed in Canada at 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time before continuing to Detroit after the passenger was removed.
Passenger cleared of Ebola symptoms
Canadian health authorities assessed the passenger upon arrival. A Public Health Agency of Canada Quarantine Officer determined the individual showed no symptoms of Ebola and was subsequently placed on a flight returning to Paris.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and infectious disease expert Dr. Céline Gounder, Ebola cannot be transmitted by asymptomatic individuals. Dr. Gounder emphasized that people are not contagious until symptoms appear and said passengers seated next to asymptomatic individuals are not at risk.
New travel restrictions for Ebola-affected regions
The CDC announced on May 18 new entry restrictions affecting travelers who visited Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days. Individuals without U.S. passports who have been in these countries are barred from entering the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now requires all U.S.-bound flights carrying travelers from these regions to land exclusively at Washington-Dulles International Airport, where enhanced public health screening will be conducted.
The U.S. State Department later added that U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who recently traveled in the affected countries must also enter through Washington-Dulles. It remains unclear how these new measures align with the CDC’s earlier restrictions.
Dr. Gounder noted that similar airport routing and screening protocols were used during the 2013-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak to facilitate health monitoring without outright banning travel.
Passenger and crew experience during diversion
Business class passenger Deborah Mistor described how the passenger was removed discreetly through the back of the plane in Montreal. The remaining passengers then continued to Detroit on the same aircraft.
Mistor said the flight crew initially provided limited information but later confirmed that the diversion was due to U.S. authorities’ refusal to allow the plane to land, not a mechanical issue. Flight attendants wore face masks during the delay, which Dr. Gounder suggested was unnecessary and risked causing undue passenger alarm given the lack of symptoms in the removed passenger.
Why it matters
This incident highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to contain Ebola transmission risks from Central Africa amid a recent outbreak. The new travel restrictions and designated airport protocols aim to facilitate health screenings and reduce potential virus spread through international air travel.
Background
The current Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo was confirmed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on May 15. The World Health Organization reports approximately 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths linked to the Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no approved vaccines or treatments.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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