Qantas Boeing 787 Infested with Bed Bugs, Flight Cancelled and Passengers Stranded for Days
A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating a nearly 17-hour service from Perth to Rome on October 9 was found to be infested with bed bugs, with multiple passengers reporting bites during the flight. The aircraft was immediately grounded and taken out of service to undergo comprehensive cleaning and fumigation procedures to eliminate the infestation.
The airline cancelled the aircraft's scheduled return flight from Rome to Perth to allow sufficient time for the deep clean, leaving passengers stranded and requiring rebooking on alternative services. The incident exposed how rapidly infestations can spread on long-haul aircraft and highlighted vulnerabilities in international travel despite strict hygiene protocols.
- Bed bugs reported on Qantas QF5 Perth-Rome flight on October 9; passengers bitten during 17-hour journey
- Aircraft grounded for deep cleaning and fumigation; return Rome-Perth flight cancelled
- Affected passengers stranded for several days awaiting rebooking on alternative flights