Sydney, Oct 13 (V7N)- Australian airline Qantas cancelled a flight from Italy to Australia on Saturday (October 10) after bedbugs were discovered on board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, prompting the aircraft to be temporarily grounded for thorough cleaning, BBC News reported.
The incident followed complaints from several passengers about insect bites during a nearly 17-hour flight from Perth to Rome on Friday. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, passengers were given antihistamines to relieve itching, but the medication supplies eventually ran out.
A Qantas spokesperson confirmed that bedbugs had been found in some economy-class seats. The airline subsequently decided to carry out a comprehensive cleaning of the aircraft.
Qantas apologised to passengers for the disruption, saying affected travellers had been accommodated and booked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original scheduled departure.
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) describes bedbugs as small, wingless insects that can live in bedding, clothing and furniture. Their bites can cause itching, although they generally do not lead to serious health problems.
Bedbug infestations have also been reported in other forms of transport. Less than two weeks ago, several Southeastern Railway trains in England were cancelled after bedbugs were discovered in train drivers’ cabins.
In 2017, a family reported being bitten by bedbugs during a British Airways flight from Vancouver to London.
Similar complaints have also emerged involving Turkish Airlines flights, with The New York Times reporting several incidents last year.
The latest incident has renewed concerns about pest control and cleaning procedures in the transport industry, particularly on long-haul journeys.
END/SMA/AJ
