Air France Flight Diverted to Montreal Over Ebola Rules
U.S. entry restrictions force Detroit-bound plane to land at Trudeau after passenger from Congo boards in error.
An Air France flight bound for Detroit was diverted to Montreal on Wednesday after U.S. Customs and Border Protection denied entry to the entire plane. The reason: a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo boarded the flight from Paris despite new U.S. travel restrictions tied to the Ebola outbreak.
According to federal authorities, the passenger "should not have boarded" under regulations that require travelers from certain African nations to enter the U.S. only through Washington. Air France confirmed the passenger was denied entry due to the new protocols.
The diversion highlights how quickly international Ebola containment efforts are rippling across borders. Health officials remain on alert as a rare strain called Bundibugyo ravages the Congo and Uganda. The World Health Organization reported almost 600 suspected cases and 139 deaths, though officials believe the actual scale is much larger.
In Canada, one Ontario resident who recently returned from East Africa underwent testing for Ebola as a precaution. Samples are expected to arrive at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg for analysis. For Montreal, the diversion serves as a tangible reminder that a distant outbreak can land on our doorstep within hours.