A tipster on Local 4’s Help Desk alerted us to an Air France flight bound for Detroit that was diverted to Canada after U.S. authorities barred it from entering American airspace.
On Wednesday (May 20), a passenger who had recently traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo was reportedly on board.
Air France Flight AF378 departed Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport around 4 p.m. local time en route to Detroit Metropolitan Airport before being redirected to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, where it was expected to land Wednesday night, according to EuropeSays.com.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the diversion in a statement, saying the airline mistakenly boarded a passenger subject to U.S. entry restrictions related to concerns about Ebola exposure.
Air France boarded apassenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo in error on a flightto 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 traveler 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."
CBP spokesperson
A passenger on board the Boeing 777-200 said pilots informed travelers that U.S. authorities would not allow the aircraft to land in Detroit.
The passenger also said flight attendants were wearing masks and referenced concerns about a virus.
The flight carried up to 312 passengers, including travelers booked through a Delta Air Lines codeshare agreement with Air France.
CDC order, Ebola outbreak prompt travel restrictions
The diversion comes days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an emergency order restricting entry for most non-U.S. citizens who had recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda amid concerns over an Ebola outbreak.
Under the order, enacted Monday, U.S. citizens, nationals, and lawful permanent residents are still permitted to enter the country after travel to those nations.
Most foreign nationals, however, are barred if they have been in those countries within the previous 21 days.
Health officials raised concerns following confirmation that a U.S. doctor treating Ebola patients in Congo tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus earlier this month.
The doctor was evacuated to Germany for treatment.
According to the World Health Organization, there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
Previous outbreaks involving the strain have had fatality rates ranging from 30% to 50%.
Air France routes, codeshare connections
Air France does not operate direct flights to the countries named in the CDC order, but it does serve Kinshasa, in the neighboring Republic of Congo, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Representatives for Air France, Delta Air Lines, the CDC, and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport were contacted for comment.