On 9 October, bedbugs were discovered on a Qantas passenger aircraft traveling from Perth, Australia, to Rome, Italy. The insects were found in a small number of economy class seats.
Travelers aboard the flight reported being bitten by the bedbugs during the journey. Their accounts prompted the crew to take note of the problem.
In response to the bites, antihistamines were provided to those passengers who had been affected by the insects.
After the discovery, the aircraft was taken out of service so that engineers and repair crews could carry out thorough disinfection.
After the discovery, the aircraft was taken out of service so that engineers and repair crews could carry out thorough disinfection. The plane remained grounded while the cleaning process was completed.
Because the aircraft needed to stay out of service, the return flight to Australia that had been scheduled for 10 October was canceled. This left the tourists who had arrived in Europe stranded.
A Qantas representative apologized for the cancellation of the Saturday Rome — Perth flight, stating that the delay allowed engineers and repair crews to perform the thorough disinfection after the bedbugs were found in a small number of economy class seats.
The article also briefly notes a different incident involving a Russian tourist who encountered bedbugs at a hotel in Turkey, though no further details are provided.