{"id":2301,"date":"2026-05-21T14:41:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/21\/passenger-from-congo-boards-flight-in-error-prompting-diversion-to-canada-amid-ebola-outbreak\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T14:41:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:41:24","slug":"passenger-from-congo-boards-flight-in-error-prompting-diversion-to-canada-amid-ebola-outbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=2301","title":{"rendered":"Passenger from Congo boards flight \u2018in error\u2019, prompting diversion to Canada amid Ebola outbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"b7903c93-8623-45bc-ac8b-0933ac44f6ba\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a plane in the sky\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/14d6c4922d170281e79bccbde85dbf0434e46fdd\/1099_564_3220_2575\/master\/3220.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.8555900621118\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">An Air France plane was redirected to Canada on Wednesday after it was determined that a passenger from the DRC had boarded \u2018in error\u2019.<\/span> Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"b7903c93-8623-45bc-ac8b-0933ac44f6ba\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">An Air France plane was redirected to Canada on Wednesday after it was determined that a passenger from the DRC had boarded \u2018in error\u2019.<\/span> Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Passenger from Congo boards flight \u2018in error\u2019, prompting diversion to Canada amid Ebola outbreak<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Air France flight en route to Detroit, Michigan, landed in Montreal after virus-related travel restrictions<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/2026\/feb\/17\/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/air-france-klm\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Air France<\/a> flight headed to Detroit, Michigan, was redirected to Canada on Wednesday after it was determined that a passenger from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/congo\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/a> (DRC) had boarded \u201cin error\u201d amid new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/ebola\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Ebola<\/a>-related travel restrictions, officials with the US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cDue to entry restrictions put in place to reduce the risk of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/ebola\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Ebola<\/a> virus, the passenger should not have boarded the plane,\u201d a CBP spokesperson said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cCBP took decisive action and prohibited the flight carrying that traveler from landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne county airport, and instead, diverted to Montreal, Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"1b37b350-277b-4de9-90d8-e2fa979f62b1\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1bg5532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/us-travel-restriction-ebola-hantavirus-impacts\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">US curbs on travelers exposed to deadly viruses may infringe rights and deter volunteers<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The spokesperson added that CBP, in coordination with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), \u201cis taking the necessary measures to protect public health and reduce the risk of Ebola disease introduction into the United States\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">On Monday, the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ebola\/situation-summary\/title-42-order.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">implemented<\/a> temporary measures aimed at preventing the Ebola disease from entering the US amid ongoing outbreaks in east and central Africa. The measures include enhanced travel screening, entry restrictions and additional public health protocols.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Among the new rules are entry restrictions for non-US passport holders who have been in \u201cUganda, DRC or South Sudan in the previous 21 days\u201d. The order is in effect for 30 days, according to the announcement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The DHS will implement further entry restrictions beginning on Thursday for foreign travellers arriving to the US from countries at the center of the outbreak. In a DHS <a href=\"https:\/\/public-inspection.federalregister.gov\/2026-10179.pdf\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">notice submitted<\/a> to the Federal Register, expected to be published on Thursday, the department states all US-bound flights carrying foreign travelers who have been in Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days must land at Washington-Dulles international airport in Virginia, \u201cwhere the US government is focusing public health resources to implement enhanced public health measures\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">On Wednesday, the director-general of the World Health Organization <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/speeches\/item\/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-ebola-outbreak-in-drc-and-uganda-20-may-2026\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said<\/a> that so far, there had been almost 600 suspected cases of Ebola and 139 suspected deaths, warning that the numbers were expected to rise. The director-general said that 51 cases had been confirmed in the DRC, \u201calthough we know the scale of the epidemic in DRC is much larger\u201d. Uganda has also confirmed two cases, he said.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">During his remarks, the director-general also said that an American citizen who was working in the DRC had also been confirmed positive and had been transferred to Germany.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US news<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/ebola\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Ebola<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/business\/air-france-klm\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Air France\/KLM<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/world-health-organization\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">World Health Organization<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/congo\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Passenger%20from%20Congo%20boards%20flight%20%E2%80%98in%20error%E2%80%99,%20prompting%20diversion%20to%20Canada%20amid%20Ebola%20outbreak&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/congo-canada-passenger-flight-diversion-ebola?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F21%2Fcongo-canada-passenger-flight-diversion-ebola&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/congo-canada-passenger-flight-diversion-ebola\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Air France plane was redirected to Canada on Wednesday after it was determined that a passenger from<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2303,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}