Bedbugs on a Qantas flight: Passengers report insects crawling on clothes, shoes and blankets, return service gets canceled

You board a plane and expect your flight to give you a comfortable experience but that’s not what happened to passengers flying to Rome. Instead, they had to go through something unimaginable. People who were on that long flight watched insects crawl into their clothes and other belongings. Many passengers reported bedbugs crawling everywhere on the Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight.

As the reports emerged, the airline canceled its return to Perth and asked a maintenance team to clean the plane. The affected outbound flight travelled from Perth on October 9. Its return was scheduled for October 10. While Qantas apologised and arranged alternatives for stranded travellers, it left them with a bitter experience. Many people were concerned about their luggage and what was inside it and whether it would be safe to take it home.

Why did Qantas cancel the Rome-to-Perth flight?

After reports revealed that passengers faced bedbugs on the nearly 17-hour Perth-to-Rome flight and faced insect bites, Qantas decided to investigate the matter and improve maintenance. As per a report by The Sydney Morning Herald, the airline called its engineers and maintenance team to use their deep cleaning process for the entire flight, especially on a small number of economy seats. Taking the aircraft out of service disrupted the following day's departure from Rome.

What did passengers say about the bedbugs?

Fox News mentioned in its report that a passenger named Hailey Bagnall stated that she witnessed bedbugs crawling all over her clothes and belongings. She even said that there were insects on the provided blankets and along a window,

Some other passengers complained about finding bugs inside their shoes. Some described being disturbed from sleep as the problem became apparent. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that travellers received antihistamines for itchy bites, although supplies eventually ran out.

How did Qantas respond to the infestation?

According to 9News, passengers initially alerted crew during the Sydney-to-Perth leg. Qantas said staff cleaned the cabin before the onward flight to Rome. Affected seat coverings and soft furnishings were removed, while impacted seats were cordoned off.

The airline said its aircraft undergo regular cleaning and precautionary disinfectant treatment every 50 days. After cancelling the return service, Qantas provided hotel accommodation to affected passengers. The airline even rebooked alternative flights within 48 hours.

Can bedbugs spread through luggage?

Passengers were worried that their luggage had been infected by bedbugs, and yes, the insects can hide in personal belongings and move between locations with travellers.

As per a Fox News report, Entomologist Benjamin Hottel of Orkin said that bedbugs can reach complex places, which means the place or the object needs to be cleaned. Just finding the insect doesn’t mean you have to panic; you can follow the fabric care instructions provided by the CDC.

Are bedbugs dangerous to passengers?

While people think bedbugs can spread diseases, the CDC has already clarified that insect bites can only cause itching and disturb sleep, not anything serious. However, continuous itching can result in damaging the skin and can even lead to allergic reactions for some people.

FAQs

Which aircraft was affected by bedbugs?

A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating between Perth and Rome.

Do bedbugs transmit disease?

They are not known to spread disease, but bites can cause discomfort.