{
  "id": 14435213,
  "title": "Qantas flight between Perth & Rome taken out of service for deep cleaning due to bed bugs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/qantas-flight-between-perth-rome-taken-out-of-service-for-deep",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T11:32:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mothership",
    "slug": "mothership",
    "url": "https://mothership.sg/2026/10/bed-bugs-qantas-plane/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Qantas flight from Perth to Rome was abruptly halted for extensive cleaning following reports of passengers being bitten by bedbugs on a previous leg of the journey. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, flight QF5, encountered the issue during its outbound trip on October 9. Affected travelers were administered antihistamines to alleviate the bites, but the supply subsequently ran out, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. Consequently, the return flight from Rome to Perth on October 10 was cancelled. Passenger comfort was prioritized, with the affected individuals accommodated and rebooked on subsequent flights within a 48-hour window from their original departure. Qantas expressed deep regret for the cancellation, stating that engineers and maintenance teams conducted a thorough cleaning of the aircraft due to a minor bed bug infestation in select economy seats.\n\nQantas emphasized that their aircraft undergo regular thorough cleaning and are disinfected every 50 days as a preventative measure. However, a deep cleaning to eradicate bed bugs necessitates fumigation, rendering the plane inoperable for the duration of the process. The Perth to Rome route remains a favored choice among patrons who are willing to pay premium fares for a non-stop service between Australia and Italy. Qantas intends to maintain this service until October 23, adding an additional 40 flights during this period. Bed bugs are tiny creatures that are not known to transmit diseases to humans; they can cause swelling, welts, and itchiness in those who are allergic to their bites. Although the bites are typically painless, they can lead to red spots that gradually fade over time. Incidences of bed bugs on airplanes are relatively rare but not unheard of. A British Airways flight from Vancouver to London experienced a bed bug infestation in 2017, and Turkish Airways encountered the same issue on a flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul in 2024.",
  "summary": "The airline provided accommodation for affected passengers and rebooked their flights.",
  "key_points": [
    "Qantas flight QF5 from Perth to Rome halted for bed bug cleaning.",
    "Return flight cancelled on October 10 due to bed bug issue.",
    "Qantas regrets cancellation, offers rebooking within 48 hours."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}