Air France Flight to U.S. Is Diverted to Montreal Over Congolese Passenger Amid Ebola Fears
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- An Air France flight from Paris to Detroit was diverted to Montreal after a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was denied entry into the U.S. due to Ebola-related travel restrictions.
- The Trump administration recently closed U.S. borders to travelers from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in those countries.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the passenger should not have boarded the flight, citing entry restrictions aimed at reducing Ebola risk; no medical emergency was reported on board.
- The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, with over 130 deaths and nearly 600 infections, but stated there is little risk of a global pandemic.
- The U.S. entry restrictions exclude American citizens and service members, are set for 30 days, and may be extended depending on the situation.