Qantas flight grounded after bedbug outbreak

What the report says

A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner service between Rome and Perth was cancelled after the airline said a bedbug problem was identified on the aircraft. According to the BBC, the issue came to light after passengers on the previous long-haul journey complained of being bitten during the nearly 17-hour flight from Perth to Rome.

The BBC reported that some travelers were given antihistamines for the itching, but supplies ran out. Qantas said the aircraft had to undergo a deep clean and that the problem was found on a small number of economy seats. The cancellation affected the return Rome-to-Perth flight on Saturday.

In a statement quoted by the BBC, Qantas apologized to customers and said its engineers and maintenance teams carried out the cleaning. The airline said affected passengers were given accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure.

Bedbugs are small parasitic insects that can be difficult to remove and may cause itchy bites, though they are not usually linked to serious illness, according to general public health guidance cited by the BBC. The report also noted that similar infestations have disrupted travel in other cases, underscoring how quickly aircraft or transport services can be taken out of service when pests are discovered.