Qantas flight grounded after bedbug outbreak

A Qantas flight from Italy to Australia was abruptly halted on Saturday due to an outbreak of bedbugs on board. Earlier on Friday, a 17-hour flight from Perth to Rome had seen some passengers complain of being bitten by the pests, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. They were administered antihistamines to alleviate the discomfort, but the supply eventually ran out.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was grounded for a thorough cleaning, according to a Qantas spokesperson speaking to the BBC. "We apologize wholeheartedly to our customers for the cancellation of Saturday's Rome to Perth service, which permitted our engineers and maintenance crews to conduct a comprehensive cleaning of the aircraft following a problem identified on a limited number of economy seats," the spokesperson explained.

All passengers affected by the cancellation were granted accommodation and subsequently rebooked on alternate flights within 48 hours of their initial departure, the airline added. Bedbugs are diminutive, wingless insects that can inhabit clothing, furniture, and bedding. Though their bites are usually itchy, they seldom lead to more severe health complications, as noted on the NHS website.

However, they are notoriously challenging and costly to eradicate. Treatment typically involves cleaning all bedding, clothing, and household items like curtains in hot water and then tumble drying them, or placing them in a freezer for three to four days. Instances of bedbugs disrupting travel are not uncommon. Just under two weeks prior, multiple Southeastern train services in England were halted when drivers discovered the vermin in their cabs.

In 2017, British Airways issued an apology to a family en route from Vancouver to London after they were drenched in bug bites from an overnight flight. And last year, Turkish Airlines faced a public relations nightmare following reports of bedbug infestations on its planes and allegations that the airline had done nothing to address the issue.