The situation
If you were planning on catching some Z's on a Qantas flight, you might want to double-check your seat first. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Perth to Rome (flight QF5) had to be grounded after bedbugs were spotted in the economy section on October 9. Real talk: it’s giving major ick.
Because these little guys are notoriously difficult to get rid of, Qantas had to pull the aircraft out of rotation. This forced the cancellation of the return service from Rome back to Perth on October 10 while maintenance teams performed a deep clean. A Qantas spokesperson confirmed the issue was isolated to a "small number of economy seats" and apologized for the headache caused to travelers.
How did they get there?
If you're wondering how a bunch of bugs ended up on a high-tech Dreamliner, you can blame our own travel habits. Prof Michelle Power, a parasitologist at Macquarie University, explained that bedbugs are basically stowaways. They tend to hang out in hotel rooms and crawl into luggage or clothes because they’re attracted to human scents.
Once they’re in your suitcase, they’re officially traveling the world with you. While the airline says they have a standard cleaning cycle—disinfecting cabins every 50 days—it’s clearly not enough to stop these pests from catching a flight.
Why it matters
While bedbugs aren't considered dangerous, their bites are lowkey irritating and super itchy. The main issue is that they are master hiders, surviving in tiny crevices for long periods without needing to feed. For Qantas, it’s a logistical L, resulting in canceled flights and the need to rebook passengers. For the rest of us, it’s a reminder that no matter how luxe the flight, you’re never truly alone in your seat.
