Qantas cancels Rome-Perth flight after bed bugs found in Dreamliner seats
Qantas took a Boeing 787 Dreamliner out of service in Rome for deep cleaning after bed bugs were found in economy seats, forcing the return flight to Perth to be cancelled.
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Australian airline Qantas has had to cancel a flight after bed bugs were found in the seats of one of its aircraft. The company's Boeing 787 Dreamliner was taken out of service in Rome for a time and given a deep cleaning, which forced the cancellation of the return flight from Rome to Perth.
The matter dates to October 9, when Qantas flight QF5 was travelling from Perth to Rome. Bed bugs were found in some seats in the front section of economy class, and passengers were inconvenienced by the insects. When the aircraft reached Rome, it was taken out of service for a time for cleaning. As a result, the return flight from Rome to Perth on October 10 was cancelled.
Qantas has issued a statement on the incident. The company said engineers and the maintenance team cleaned the entire aircraft after bed bugs were found in some economy class seats. It expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers by the cancellation.
The company said arrangements were made for the affected passengers to stay, and that they were given seats on other flights within 48 hours of their scheduled departure time.
According to Qantas, the interiors of its aircraft are cleaned regularly and particular attention is paid to maintaining a high standard of cleanliness. As a precaution, insecticide is also applied in aircraft every 50 days.
It is being speculated that the bed bugs reached the aircraft on a passenger's clothes or luggage. The insects hide in dark places, and can easily conceal themselves in clothes, bags, furniture and the crevices of seats. They can also spread from hotels or other places visited during travel.
Bed bugs are small, wingless parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and some other mammals. Their bites can cause itching and irritation on the skin, but they generally do not cause any serious health problem.
The insects can remain hidden in the crevices of seats, in mattresses, clothes and bedding. They can survive for long periods without feeding, which makes them difficult to eliminate completely.
The bed bug problem is not confined to any one economic group. The insects can be carried unknowingly from one place to another in the belongings of frequent travellers. Proper cleaning and effective pest control are necessary to stop their spread.
