US blocks landing of Detroit-bound jet over Ebola fears, forces diversion to Canada

An Air France flight travelling from Paris to Detroit was diverted to Canada on May 20 after a passenger who had recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo boarded “in error,” prompting U.S. authorities to block the aircraft from landing at its intended destination amid tightened Ebola-related entry rules.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the passenger should not have been allowed to board the flight due to entry restrictions designed to reduce the risk of Ebola transmission, Caliber.Az reports, citing American media.

CBP said it took “decisive action” by preventing the aircraft from landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and redirecting it instead to Canada.

Air France confirmed that Flight 378, which departed Paris on Wednesday, was diverted at the request of U.S. authorities and landed at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport shortly after 5 p.m. Eastern Time. The airline emphasised there was no medical emergency on board and said it complies with destination country entry requirements.

The diversion comes after the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced new restrictions limiting entry for non–U.S. citizens and non–green card holders who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda within the past 21 days. Under the new policy, flights carrying affected travellers must land at Washington Dulles International Airport for enhanced screening and public health measures.

The Department of Homeland Security and CBP further formalised arrival procedures requiring all such flights to route through designated entry points. Officials said the measures are intended to concentrate public health resources and reduce the risk of importation during an ongoing outbreak.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the current Ebola outbreak has caused more than 139 suspected deaths and over 600 suspected cases, most of them in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The agency also noted that a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain, which is driving the outbreak, remains months away from human trials and is not guaranteed to be effective.

By Aghakazim Guliyev