Qantas grounds Dreamliner following bedbug infestation

Qantas has removed a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from service following a bedbug infestation reported by passengers on a long-haul flight. The issue was first noted on October 9 during flight QF5, traveling from Sydney to Perth, where passengers reported insects on blankets, clothing, and belongings.

Despite attempts to manage the situation in Perth by cleaning parts of the cabin and removing soft furnishings, the problem persisted during the subsequent flight to Rome. Passengers on the Perth-to-Rome leg reported being bitten, and crew members reportedly provided antihistamines to those affected until the supply was exhausted.

As a result, Qantas canceled the scheduled October 10 return flight from Rome to Perth to allow engineers and maintenance teams to conduct a deep cleaning of the aircraft. The airline stated the infestation was limited to a small number of economy seats. Qantas apologized for the cancellation and reported that all affected travelers were provided with hotel accommodations and rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours.