By Bellow Sani l May 21, 2026
An Air France flight traveling from Paris to Detroit in the United States was diverted to Montreal, Canada, after concerns emerged that one of the passengers may have been exposed to the Ebola virus amid ongoing outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the passenger was mistakenly allowed to board Air France Flight 378 in Paris despite new American entry restrictions tied to the Ebola outbreak. U.S. authorities subsequently barred the aircraft from landing in Detroit and ordered it to divert to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport instead.
Officials said the passenger had recently traveled through regions currently affected by a rare strain of Ebola virus. However, authorities did not confirm whether the individual was showing symptoms of the disease. Air France later stated there was “no medical emergency on board” and stressed that the airline was complying with the public health regulations imposed by countries it serves.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft landed in Montreal around 5:15 p.m. local time, where the passenger was escorted off the plane by authorities. After a brief delay, the flight resumed its journey and later arrived safely in Detroit.
The incident follows heightened international concern over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern because of fears surrounding the rapid spread of infections and weak healthcare infrastructure in affected regions.
On May 18, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security introduced temporary restrictions on non-U.S. passport holders who had recently visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. The regulations also require enhanced screening measures at designated American airports.
The diversion sparked widespread reactions online, with many social media users questioning how the passenger was initially allowed to board the flight despite the restrictions already being in place. Others expressed concern about the handling of the situation and the potential health implications for passengers aboard the aircraft.
Canadian health officials have not announced any confirmed Ebola cases connected to the flight. Authorities in Ontario are also reportedly monitoring another traveler recently returned from East Africa who is undergoing testing for possible infectious diseases, including Ebola, as a precautionary measure.