Qantas Grounds Dreamliner After Bedbugs Found
Qantas removed a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from service after bedbugs were discovered in the economy cabin during a Perth to Rome flight.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Air Travel
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Qantas grounded a Boeing 787 Dreamliner after bedbugs were discovered on board flight QF5 from Perth to Rome on 9 October, and cancelled the return flight scheduled for 10 October. Affected passengers received hotel accommodation and were rebooked onto alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure times.
Why it matters
The discovery led Qantas to take the aircraft out of service and cancel a scheduled return service, disrupting travelers on the Perth to Rome route. Bedbugs are most likely introduced through passenger luggage or clothing, so the incident highlights how pests can reach aircraft cabins from infested locations such as hotels.
Qantas cabins receive disinfectant treatment every 50 days as routine preventive maintenance, and a comprehensive cleaning was conducted on arrival in Rome. Bedbugs are flightless and not considered dangerous organisms, but they can remain hidden in cabin areas for extended periods without feeding.
The players
Qantas
Qantas is Australia's flag carrier airline, headquartered in Sydney, which operated the affected Boeing 787 Dreamliner and its Perth to Rome service.
Prof Michelle Power
Prof Michelle Power is a parasitologist at Macquarie University who is cited in coverage of the incident for her expertise on bedbugs.
The details
Bedbugs were identified in the forward section of the economy cabin on QF5, which operated from Perth to Rome on 9 October. The airline conducted a comprehensive cleaning operation upon arrival in Rome and cancelled the scheduled Rome to Perth return flight on 10 October.
Timeline
9 October: QF5 flight from Perth to Rome, where bedbugs were discovered in the economy cabin.
10 October: Scheduled Rome to Perth return flight cancelled.
Industry Context
Qantas cabins are disinfected every 50 days as routine preventive maintenance, a schedule that did not prevent this infestation. The incident illustrates how bedbugs, which the extraction describes as flightless and not dangerous, can still disrupt airline operations when they arrive through passenger luggage.
Travelers on long-haul routes can reduce their exposure to bedbugs by inspecting luggage and clothing after hotel stays before boarding a flight. Passengers whose flights are cancelled should expect rebooking within about 48 hours, with hotel accommodation provided while they wait.
The takeaway
Checking luggage and clothing for signs of bedbugs after hotel stays can help keep them out of travel gear before a flight. Keeping receipts for rebooking and hotel costs can also help if a cancellation disrupts your plans.
Further reading
For more on how airlines handle cabin safety and disruptions, see Air Travel.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RocketNews.
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