Air France flight bound for Detroit rerouted after possible Ebola exposure

An Air France flight scheduled to land at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on May 20, 2026, was rerouted to Montreal after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identified a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who should not have boarded due to ongoing Ebola restrictions. The flight, Air France 378, was prohibited from landing in Detroit and instead diverted to Montreal, later returning to Detroit after 8:18 p.m. local time. The incident follows a May 18 announcement by the CDC and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) imposing a 30-day travel ban on non-U.S. passport holders from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. All travelers from these countries in the past 21 days are now required to route through Washington-Dulles International Airport for enhanced health screenings, effective for flights departing after 11:59 p.m. on May 20. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency on May 20, citing 139 confirmed deaths and over 600 suspected cases of the Bundibugyo strain. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that case numbers may rise due to undetected spread and limited containment measures in the DRC. The DHS document specifies that travelers from the three affected countries must undergo screening at Dulles, where public health resources are concentrated. The restrictions aim to mitigate risks as the outbreak spreads, with no vaccines or therapeutics currently available for the Bundibugyo strain. Air France confirmed the error in boarding, stating the passenger was mistakenly allowed on the flight despite entry restrictions. The rerouting ensured compliance with U.S. health protocols while minimizing public exposure risks.