U. S.
Customs and Border Protection officials diverted an Air France flight from Detroit to Montreal on Wednesday after the airline mistakenly boarded a passenger subject to Ebola-related travel restrictions.
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Flight AF378, a Boeing 777-200 departing from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, carried up to 312 passengers. The aircraft was redirected to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport on Wednesday night.
The enforcement action follows a recent emergency order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The order bars most foreign nationals who visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda within the previous 21 days from entering the United States.
"Air France boarded a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo in error on a flight to the United States," a CBP spokesperson said.
"Due to entry restrictions put in place to reduce the risk of the Ebola virus, the passenger should not have boarded the plane."
CBP stated that it took decisive action to prohibit the flight from landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and diverted it to Montreal, Canada.
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The agency is coordinating with the CDC to protect public health and reduce the risk of Ebola introduction into the United States.
An anonymous passenger on board said pilots informed travelers that U. S.
authorities denied landing permission in Detroit. Flight attendants wore masks and referenced concerns about a virus.
Although Air France does not operate direct flights to the restricted nations, it serves Kinshasa in the neighboring Republic of Congo.
Emergency Restrictions Enacted
The emergency travel restrictions were enacted after a U. S.
doctor treating Ebola patients in Congo tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus earlier this month.
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The World Health Organization reports that the Bundibugyo strain lacks approved vaccines or specific treatments, with historical fatality rates between 30% and 50%.
