- Qantas has grounded a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Rome after bedbugs were discovered in the economy cabin
- The insects were found on Friday, 9 October 2026, during flight QF5 from Perth to Rome
- The return flight QF6 from Rome to Perth was cancelled
- Passengers received hotel accommodation and were rebooked within 48 hours
- Qantas deployed engineering and maintenance teams to perform a deep clean
Qantas has grounded a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Rome after an active bedbug infestation was discovered in the economy cabin during a flight from Australia. The incident forced the airline to cancel its scheduled return flight to Perth and withdraw the aircraft from service for fumigation and deep cleaning.
The parasitic insects were discovered on Friday, 9 October 2026, during flight QF5, a nearly 17-hour direct journey from Perth to Rome. Passengers in the forward economy section reported bedbugs crawling up their legs, across clothing, along Qantas blankets and over cabin windows. Flight crew distributed antihistamines on medical advice to soothe severe itching but cabin supplies ran out mid-flight.
Upon landing in Rome, the aircraft was immediately grounded. The return service flight QF6 from Rome to Perth scheduled for Saturday, 10 October was cancelled. Qantas deployed engineering and maintenance teams to perform a deep clean after the issue was isolated to a small number of economy seats. Disrupted passengers stranded in Rome received hotel accommodation and were rebooked onto alternative flights within 48 hours.
