Qantas Plane Immobilised in Rome After Passengers Report Bedbug Bites

Overview

• Passengers on Qantas flight QF5 from Perth to Rome reported itching and bites during the flight on Friday 9 October, and cabin crew dispensed antihistamines until on-board supplies were exhausted.
• Ground crews in Rome removed the Boeing 787 from service on arrival so maintenance teams could perform a deep clean and the scheduled return flight QF6 was cancelled with affected travellers housed and rebooked within 48 hours.
• Investigations located bedbugs in several rows at the front of the economy cabin, and Qantas said the issue was limited to a small number of seats while reiterating its routine maintenance and a 50-day preventive cabin disinfectant cycle.
• Parasitology experts told reporters the insects were likely carried in passengers’ clothing or luggage, that bedbugs can hide in seat seams and resist many insecticides, and that eradication on aircraft can be complex and may require follow-up inspections.
• Italy’s consumer group Sportello dei Diritti has demanded compensation and advised passengers to keep tickets, receipts and medical certificates, and the incident could prompt claims, further remediation steps and industry attention to pest detection on long-haul flights.