Bed bug outbreak on flight to Australia forces Qantas to ground plane

Qantas grounded an international flight after passengers in economy reported being bitten by bed bugs, according to NSW Health Pathology Department of Medical Entomology. The Oct. 10 flight from Rome to Perth was cancelled, and travelers were rebooked on alternative services within two days or offered hotel accommodation until another aircraft was available. Qantas said engineers performed a thorough inspection and deep clean after an issue identified on a small number of economy seats. Dr Stephen Doggett said bed bugs can go unseen for weeks, with reactions sometimes delayed for days to weeks, meaning the source may not have been Rome. He advised passengers to check seat seams and cushion edges and look for insects and “poo” spots.