Flight Bound for U.S. Diverted After Ebola Threat

An Air France flight headed to Detroit was suddenly diverted to Canada after U.S. officials discovered a passenger from Congo had boarded the aircraft “in error” during a growing Ebola outbreak in Africa.

The alarming incident unfolded Wednesday aboard Air France Flight 378, which departed from Paris and was scheduled to land at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

Instead, U.S. Customs and Border Protection blocked the plane from entering the country. The aircraft was rerouted to Montreal Trudeau International Airport, where it landed shortly after 5 p.m.

Federal officials later confirmed the passenger should never have been allowed on the flight because of emergency Ebola-related travel restrictions.

“Due to entry restrictions put in place to reduce the risk of the Ebola virus, the passenger should not have boarded the plane,” a CBP spokesperson said.

Air France confirmed the diversion happened “at the request of U.S. authorities.” The airline also stressed there was “no medical emergency” onboard the aircraft.

Still, the incident immediately raised serious concerns about airport screening procedures and international travel oversight during an active health crisis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new restrictions earlier this week for travelers coming from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. The policy temporarily blocks entry for non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in those countries.

Federal officials are now directing flights carrying travelers from the affected regions to Washington-Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The airport has been designated as the main hub for enhanced health screenings and monitoring.

According to the World Health Organization, the Ebola outbreak has already led to more than 139 suspected deaths and over 600 possible cases, most of them in Congo.

Health officials are especially worried because the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. There is currently no approved vaccine for that version of the virus.

The WHO warned Wednesday that a potential vaccine is still months away from human trials, and there is no guarantee it will even work.

For many Americans already concerned about border security and public health, the diverted Detroit flight is likely to raise even more questions about whether the U.S. is fully prepared to stop dangerous diseases before they reach American soil.