Follow-Up: CDC Amends Flight Attestation Order to Cover Crew Members; Nov. 3 Start Date Unchanged
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an amended order on October 28 clarifying that its flight attestation requirement for travel to the United States also applies to crew members, including crew operating passenger and cargo aircraft and crew traveling in deadhead status who are not operating the aircraft. The requirement still takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on November 3, 2026.
The requirement stems from the CDC order issued on October 22: all travelers boarding an international flight into, or connecting through, the United States must sign a statement confirming they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days before boarding. The amended order clarifies that it covers all people traveling on any aircraft, not only ordinary passengers.
According to the CDC, the requirement applies to all flights departing a foreign country for the United States, including commercial, cargo, general aviation and private flights. Connecting through a DRC airport counts as being present in the DRC, even without leaving the aircraft. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents are covered, as are travelers only transiting the United States.
Airlines and aircraft operators must confirm at or before boarding that each passenger has completed an attestation, must not board those who have not unless they hold a U.S. government exemption, and must retain attestations for at least 42 days. Exemptions include government-authorized transports of Ebola patients and individual CDC exemptions on humanitarian or other important government grounds.
The CDC says the measure is intended to reduce the risk of Ebola being introduced into the United States through air travel, and that the 21-day period reflects the maximum incubation period for Ebola disease. Willfully providing false or misleading information may lead to criminal fines and imprisonment, and the Department of Justice may seek prosecution under 18 U.S.C. section 1001.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 美国疾控中心总部（亚特兰大 Roybal 园区），公共领域
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