Qantas plane grounded in Rome after passengers reported bedbug bites
A Qantas plane was taken out of service in Rome for deep cleaning after passengers on a nearly 17‑hour Perth–Rome flight reported bedbug bites.
A Qantas flight was cancelled in Rome over the weekend after bedbugs were discovered aboard the aircraft, the carrier said.
The action followed reports from an earlier sector: on Friday, passengers on a nearly 17‑hour flight from Perth to Rome complained of bites. Crew provided antihistamines to relieve itching, but supplies were exhausted during the flight.
Aircraft taken out of service for cleaning
“The 'Boeing 787 Dreamliner' had to be grounded for deep cleaning after a problem was identified on a small number of economy seats,” a Qantas spokesperson said. The airline said the aircraft required a thorough sanitation before it could return to service.
Long‑haul cabins can present challenges for pest control, particularly after extended sectors. Qantas did not disclose how many passengers were affected or whether anyone required medical treatment beyond the antihistamines given on board.
The cancelled Italy‑to‑Australia service was removed from the schedule while the operator addressed the contamination and prepared the aircraft for subsequent operations.
Photo: Geti)
