An Air France flight bound for Detroit was unexpectedly diverted to Canada when officials discovered that a passenger from an Ebola-affected region in Africa had mistakenly boarded, authorities revealed on Wednesday.

The aircraft, which had departed from France, was rerouted to land in Montreal. This decision came after it was discovered that a traveler from the Democratic Republic of Congo was on board, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) representative told Fox News Digital.

“In light of the entry restrictions established to mitigate the risk of the Ebola virus, this passenger should not have been allowed to board the aircraft,” the spokesperson clarified.

According to the statement, CBP “acted promptly” to prevent the plane from reaching Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

EBOLA OUTBREAK DETECTED IN AFRICAN NATION — ESSENTIAL INFORMATION YOU NEED

An Airbus A320 Air France aircraft taxis at Fiumicino airport in Italy on May 1, 2026. (AllShotLive/Sipa USA)

The passenger was removed from the flight upon landing in Montreal, FOX2 Detroit reported, adding that the individual had not been confirmed to be infected with Ebola as of Wednesday evening.

Fox News Digital reached out to Air France for comment but did not immediately hear back.

On Monday, the United States implemented enhanced travel screening, entry restrictions and public health measures due to the widening Ebola outbreak in East and Central Africa. The travel restrictions affect those who have been in Congo, Uganda and South Sudan in recent weeks.

WHO DECLARES EBOLA OUTBREAK IN CENTRAL AFRICA A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AFTER 80 SUSPECTED DEATHS

The outbreak involves a rare type of Ebola known as the Bundibugyo virus. Officials said it spread undetected for weeks following the first known death.

A woman cries as Red Cross workers carry the coffin of a person who died of Ebola from a health center in Rwampara, Congo, on May 20, 2026. (Moses Sawasawa/AP)

So far, there are 139 suspected deaths and almost 600 suspected cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that 51 cases have been confirmed in Congo’s northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, and two cases in Uganda.

Dr. Vasee Moorthy, a special advisor at WHO, said a vaccine to address Bundibugyo would not be available for at least six to nine months.

A visitor washes his hands at a checkpoint before entering Kyeshero Hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 18, 2026, as part of Ebola prevention measures following a reported case in the city. (Jospin Mwisha/AFP)

The WHO has also said “patient zero” has not been found, as health officials work to identify the source of the virus.

The Ebola virus is highly contagious and spreads in the human population through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding.

<!–>

Yet another individual connected to the Georgia football legacy has found themselves in legal trouble due to hazardous driving practices.

Nolan Smith Jr., a linebacker for the Eagles who proudly represented the Bulldogs from 2019 to 2022, was taken into custody last Friday. He faces accusations of speeding and reckless driving in Georgia, as confirmed by the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office to ESPN.

The 25-year-old Smith was allegedly recorded traveling at a staggering 135 mph in a zone with a 70 mph speed limit on the interstate around 10:41 p.m. ET, according to information provided by a sheriff’s office staff member to ESPN on Wednesday.

Following his arrest, Smith was reportedly able to post bond and was subsequently released, according to the sheriff’s office. He is expected to appear in court at a later date.

The Georgia Gazette was the first to break the news of Smith’s arrest.

Smith, 25, was selected by the Eagles — who begin organized team activities next Tuesday — in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

He’s part of an Eagles defense that includes other former Bulldogs stars in Nakobe Dean, Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.

Smith tallied 6.5 regular-season sacks in 2024 and tallied four in the playoffs while helping the Eagles to their second Super Bowl triumph.

He’s tallied 10.5 sacks in his three seasons, including three in 12 games this past season.

The Georgia football program, which has been led by head coach Kirby Smart the past 10 years, has had problems with some of its players being irresponsible on the roadways.

• Ja’Marley Riddle, 19, was arrested on May 8 on felony charges for possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor speeding charge, a police report obtained by WGIG 98.7 FM showed. The arrest occurred after an undercover Glynn County Police officer observed the cornerback traveling nearly 100 mph and weaving in and out of traffic, and radioed for a marked unit to stop the vehicle, according to the police report.  Riddle faces felony charges of purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana, and sale of a schedule I or II controlled substance. 
• Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon were arrested on Feb. 18 on driving-related charges by Athens-Clarke County police, according to The Athletic. Per their jail log, Cole was charged with reckless driving and speeding-maximum limits, while Ikinnagbon received misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, following too closely and speeding-maximum limits. Both players were reportedly released within an hour of being booked, with Cole let go on bonds totaling $26 and Ikinnagbon’s at $39.
• In 2025, three players were arrested for reckless driving in 2025 — Nitro Tuggle, Marques Easley and Nyier Daniels. None are still with the team.
• In 2023, offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting coordinator Chandler LeCroy were both killed in a high-speed crash. The incident also involved Carter, who was accused of racing LeCroy’s SUV before it crashed.

Recently unveiled documents have disclosed that Queen Elizabeth II was enthusiastic about appointing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a UK trade envoy in 2001. However, complications arose when he expressed a preference for visits to “sophisticated countries” and indulging in ballet evenings.

The Queen was eager for her second son to assume a significant role in advancing national interests, as noted by Sir David Wright, the then-chief executive of British Trade International.

In the eyes of the late Queen, Andrew seemed like a “natural fit” to step into the shoes of her cousin, the Duke of Kent, upon completing his Royal Navy service in July 2001.

She advocated for Andrew’s appointment as trade envoy, a position he secured without undergoing any formal vetting process, according to recent revelations.

This memo was released on Thursday as part of a collection of documents detailing Andrew’s appointment, which granted him access to influential government and business figures globally.

‘The Queen’s wish is that the Duke of Kent should be succeeded in this role by the Duke of York,’ Sir David wrote in a memo to then-foreign secretary Robin Cook dated February 2000 – just before Andrew’s appointment.

‘The Duke of Kent is to relinquish his responsibilities around April next year. That would fit well with the end of the Duke of York’s active naval career. The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests.

‘No other member of The Royal Family would be available to succeed the Duke of Kent. The Duke of York’s adoption of his role would seem a natural fit.’

Sir David suggested the role would include some regional trips and two or three overseas visits each year, as well as a ‘leading trade mission from time to time’. 

But before taking the job, Andrew moaned about trips to undeveloped nations while working as a UK trade envoy.

The ex-prince griped via an aide about visiting certain states for his taxpayer-funded job – a role that sparked his arrest earlier this year after the release of the Epstein Files.

‘He tended to prefer more sophisticated countries’ and has a preference ‘for ballet over theatre’ – but he didn’t want to play golf as part of the job, a never-seen-before letter said.

As Labour published historic documents on the 2001 ​appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, it was also revealed:

• The then Prince refused to play golf as part of the trade envoy role – even if had his clubs with him on the trip – because he considered 18 holes to be ‘private’; 
• Andrew denied he had demand £100,000 for office expenses, in a note prepared for an interview with a national newspaper before his appointment;
• He insisted his lack of any business experience wouldn’t hinder him in the role and said: ‘I relish the challenge’ and ‘hope to make a difference’;
• ‘We have found no evidence that a formal ​due diligence or vetting process was undertaken,’ Labour’s junior trade minister Chris Bryant said in a written statement to parliament on Thursday.

Documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy in 2001 are released by government. His arrest on his 66th birthday was related to the role

The Queen wanted Andrew to take on a ‘prominent role in the promotion of national interests’, then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright said in this newly released letter

Andrew’s views about his job working for Tony Blair emerged in 11 files related to the disgraced former Duke of York released by 10 Downing Street today.

Andrew’s preferences for trips were revealed in a letter from Kathryn Colvin, Head of Protocol Division, dated January 25, 2000. 

She explained that his Principal Private Secretary Captain Blair told her that Andrew had a preference for visits.

But Captain Blair warned her: ‘The Duke of York should not be offered golfing functions abroad. This was a private activity and if he took his clubs with him he would not play in any public sense’. 

Ms Colvin wrote that she had been told the former prince was ‘particularly good on high-tech matters, trade, youth (including primary schools and outward bound projects), cultural events, with a preference for ballet rather than theatre, the Commonwealth and military and foreign affairs’.

A line in this correspondence is redacted, with the Government saying some material has remained undisclosed to ‘remove the bare minimum of personal information and information whose release would prejudice international relations’.

Andrew became the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001 but stepped down 10 years later amid the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Epstein. 

He received no salary for travelling around the world and at home promoting Britain’s business interests, but criticisms were made about the thousands of pounds spent each year on his expenses and travel costs. 

The documents, published on Thursday following a motion by Lib Dem MPs, shed more light on the discussions he had with the New Labour government at the time of his appointment.

The party led by Sir Ed Davey today criticised the ‘small paper trail’ released by the Government in relation to the 2001 appointment of Andrew.

Lib Dem chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said: ‘It is shocking and deeply troubling that Andrew was appointed to the trade envoy role with no vetting. Nobody should be above such standards. This raises serious questions about why officials and ministers at the time thought that was acceptable.

‘The lack of documentation provided is itself concerning, as is the time it has taken to get this far. We must get the full files from Government without delay, and an explanation about why there is such a small paper trail. And the Government must commit to mandatory vetting for all similar appointments in future.

‘The victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, and the justice they have been denied for years, are foremost in our minds as this continues.

‘We must have a full public inquiry into Epstein, his links to the British establishment, and the abuse he and his associates perpetrated against women and girls here in the UK.’

Andrew liked visiting ‘sophisticated’ countries and would not play golf abroad as he considered it a ‘private’ passion – even if he took his clubs with him

A further tranche of files related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s 2001 appointment as a trade envoy are to be published at a future date, Downing Street said.

A No 10 spokeswoman told reporters: ‘We are complying with the humble address and we’re publishing those documents as quickly as possible.

‘We’re also supporting the police investigation as you would expect.

‘And we’ll provide the House with any other substantive documents we find in the course of that work.’

Asked whether it was acceptable that no vetting was carried out into Andrew, the spokeswoman said: ‘We have found no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken, and there’s no evidence that this was considered.

‘And this is due to the fact that the role was a continuation of the royal family’s involvement in trade and investment promotion work following the Duke of Kent’s decision to relinquish his duties as vice chairman of British Trade International.’

Peter Mandelson has been accused of disclosing sensitive information to their mutual friend, the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, while he was working as Business Secretary.

Andrew’s arrest on February 19 – his 66th birthday – followed allegations that he had shared sensitive information with the late paedophile financier while working as trade envoy.

Both Mandelson, who was also arrested following the release of the Epstein Files in the US, and Andrew, claim they had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and being mentioned in the files is not an indication of guilt.

Both men were released under investigation and deny any wrongdoing.

Andrew (centre) in Bahrain in 2014 in his role as a trade envoy, flanked by Prince Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa (left) and Crown Prince and Bahraini Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (right)

Their cases will ultimately be considered by the CPS Special Crime Division, which deals with the most sensitive and complex cases.

It has previously been reported that detectives investigating Andrew may try to broaden the scope of their enquiries beyond the misconduct in public office offences, for which it is difficult to mount a prosecution.

The former Duke of York could be investigated over other potential corruption offences on top of a wider inquiry into alleged sex trafficking, police sources have claimed.

Andrew has been dogged for more than 15 years over allegations about his relationship with Epstein, and his arrest plunged the monarchy into a constitutional crisis.

According to emails published by the US Department of Justice, Andrew appeared to have forwarded official reports of trips to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam onto the financier in 2010 and 2011.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has tried to press US authorities to expedite the release of unredacted exchanges in the files. 

Andrew’s decision to quit the envoy role in 2011 came in the same year he was pictured with his arm around his primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked to the former duke at the home of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

Ms Giuffre claimed she had sex with the former prince three times – at Maxwell’s home in London, at Epstein’s New York townhouse and on the disgraced financier’s Caribbean island, Little St James.

Andrew paid Ms Giuffre millions of pounds to settle a civil suit in the US in 2022, a woman he has claimed never to have met.

An unsettling incident in Mountainair, New Mexico, left three individuals dead and led to the quarantine of nearly 20 first responders after they came into contact with an unidentified substance. This alarming event unfolded on Wednesday, prompting swift action from local authorities.

At approximately 11 a.m., New Mexico State Police were called to a residence to support the Torrance County Sheriff’s Office. The call was initially made under the suspicion of a drug overdose involving an unknown substance, but the scene revealed a more harrowing situation.

Upon arrival, officers discovered four individuals inside the home who were unresponsive. Tragically, three of these individuals were pronounced dead, as confirmed in a statement by the police.

The situation took a further troubling turn as 18 first responders, who had arrived to manage the scene, began to exhibit symptoms such as nausea and dizziness due to exposure to the mysterious substance. As a precautionary measure, these responders were placed under quarantine to monitor their health and prevent potential further spread.

Meanwhile, in a related incident, a student in Maine passed out, leading to 11 people being hospitalized as the cause of their illnesses remains unidentified. These events underscore the importance of immediate and thorough investigations when encountering unknown substances.

New Mexico State Police respond to home in Mountainair, where authorities say several people died Wednesday, May 20, 2026, and more than a dozen first responders were exposed to an unknown substance and later treated at a hospital. (AP Photo/Savannah Peters)

The fourth occupant of the residence and the exposed first responders were transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where they are being quarantined, evaluated and monitored.

Two first responders remain in serious condition, police said.

Mountainair Mayor Peter Nieto said three of the four EMTs from Mountainair EMS have been released from the hospital, while EMS Chief Josh Lewis will remain hospitalized overnight for observation.

THREE SISTERS FOUND DEAD IN OCEAN AT POPULAR TOURIST BEACH AS POLICE PROBE MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY

Authorities said investigators do not believe the unidentified substance involved in the incident is airborne. (KRQE)

Nieto said Lewis was the first responder to enter the residence.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue hazmat teams are working to identify the substance involved.

Investigators said they believe the substance may spread through contact but do not believe it is airborne.

A New Mexico State Police vehicle blocks off a neighborhood in Mountainair, New Mexico, where authorities say several people died Wednesday, and more than a dozen first responders were exposed to an unknown substance and later treated at a hospital. (AP Photo/Savannah Peters)

Authorities said there is no threat to the public and that a secure perimeter has been established around the residence.

“At this time, we do not know the exact cause,” Nieto said in Facebook post. “However, based on the information currently available, all indications are pointing toward narcotics as a possible factor. The investigation is still ongoing, and officials are working carefully to confirm the facts before releasing final conclusions.”

Mountainair Public Works said the incident was not caused by carbon monoxide or related to natural gas.

This is a developing story; check back for updates.

<!–>