Air France Flight to Detroit Forced to Divert to Montreal After Alleged Virus Scare
PYOK • • business
Key Points:
- An Air France flight AF-378 from Paris to Detroit was diverted to Montreal after U.S. authorities barred it from entering U.S. airspace due to a passenger who had recently been in the Ebola-affected Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
- The diversion follows a CDC emergency order banning non-U.S. citizens who have been in DRC, South Sudan, or Uganda in the past 21 days from entering the U.S., aimed at preventing Ebola virus introduction.
- Air France confirmed the passenger from DRC should have only entered the U.S. via Washington (IAD) Airport under new regulations, and there was no medical emergency on board.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated the passenger was mistakenly boarded and took action to prevent the flight from landing in Detroit, diverting it to Montreal to protect public health.
- The Ebola outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, with no available vaccines or specific treatments, and has a high fatality rate; recent cases include a U.S. doctor infected in DRC and evacuated to Germany.