Qantas Aircraft Grounded in Rome After Bed Bugs Found on Long-Haul Flight
Qantas grounded an aircraft for deep cleaning and cancelled a return flight from Rome to Perth after bed bugs were discovered in the economy cabin during a 17-hour flight.
Passengers on a long-haul Qantas flight from Australia to Italy were unpleasantly surprised to find bed bugs on board. During the 17-hour flight from Perth to Rome, economy passengers complained of insect bites, prompting the airline to ground the aircraft for deep cleaning and cancel the return flight.
The incident took place on Friday, October 9, on a flight connecting Perth to Rome. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, economy passengers alerted the cabin crew about bites sustained during the journey. Flight attendants provided antihistamines for relief, but supplies eventually ran out.
Airline Response and Grounding
After landing in Rome, Qantas temporarily removed the aircraft from service for thorough disinfection, resulting in the cancellation of the return flight to Perth. The airline issued an apology, stating that engineering and maintenance teams addressed a localized issue affecting a small number of economy seats.
Affected passengers were provided with hotel accommodations and rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure time.
How Did Bed Bugs Get On Board?
According to The Guardian, the insects were discovered in the forward section of the economy cabin. Professor Michelle Power, a parasite expert at Macquarie University, explained that the pests likely hitchhiked in a passenger's luggage or clothing, as bed bugs frequently travel via personal belongings.
Bed bugs are small, blood-feeding insects whose bites cause itching and swelling, though they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. Qantas emphasized that its cabins undergo routine cleaning and preventative disinfection every 50 days, but the unexpected infestation required specialized intervention.
