Qantas flight grounded after bedbug outbreak
A Qantas flight from Italy to Australia was cancelled after passengers reported bedbug bites during a previous journey. The aircraft was grounded for a deep cleaning to address the infestation.
Why it matters
Bedbug infestations in public transport can cause significant travel disruptions and highlight ongoing hygiene challenges in the aviation industry.
Image source, Massimo Insabato via Getty Images Image caption, A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner (file photo)
A Qantas flight from Italy to Australia was cancelled on Saturday, after an outbreak of bedbugs on the plane.
During the previous flight on Friday - a nearly 17-hour journey from Perth to Rome - some passengers had complained that they were being bitten by bugs, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
They were reportedly given antihistamines to help ease the itch of the bites, but supplies ran out.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner had to be grounded for "a deep clean", a Qantas spokesperson told the BBC.
"We sincerely apologise to customers for the cancellation of Saturday's Rome to Perth service, which allowed our engineers and maintenance teams to carry out a deep clean of the aircraft after an issue was identified on a small number of economy seats," the spokesperson said.
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