A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner was taken out of service for a deep clean after passengers on a nearly 17-hour flight from Perth to Rome reportedly complained of bed bug bites.
The incident occurred aboard flight QF5 on Friday, October 9, 2026. Passengers reportedly received antihistamines to relieve itching, but supplies eventually ran out, according to media reports.
The following day’s return service, QF6 from Rome to Perth, was canceled to allow engineers and maintenance teams to carry out a thorough cleaning of the aircraft after an issue was identified on a small number of economy-class seats.
Qantas apologized to affected passengers, arranged accommodation and rebooked them onto flights within 48 hours.
The airline said its aircraft cabins are cleaned regularly to high standards and undergo disinfection every 50 days.
Bed bug bites can cause itchy, inflamed skin marks, often appearing in lines or clusters. Although the insects are not known to spread disease, infestations can be difficult to eliminate without professional treatment.
The incident highlights an unusual challenge for airlines: keeping long-haul aircraft clean and comfortable while minimizing disruption to passengers.
