Air travel is notorious for various inconveniences, such as long lines at airports, cramped seating, and frequent delays. Now, passengers on several Turkish Airlines flights have encountered another issue: bedbugs on the planes. This adds to the list of problems that travelers may face when flying.
According to Reuven Noyman, owner of NYC Steam Cleaning, bedbugs are more common on planes than people realize. Passengers on at least three Turkish Airlines flights from March to October 2024 discovered bedbugs on board. These pests can be found on planes because they can live on different fabrics like mattresses, clothing, and luggage. The covers of airplane seats provide an ideal environment for bedbugs to thrive.
Bedbugs are easily spread as individuals may not be aware they have them and unintentionally transport them. They are resilient creatures that are challenging to eradicate and require thorough treatment. While buildings like homes or hotels can be fumigated to eliminate bedbugs, this is not feasible for aircraft due to the risk of damaging electrical wiring.
When cleaning aircraft, companies like Noyman’s rely on steam washing rather than chemicals to kill bedbugs. Passengers on Turkish Airlines flights reported finding bedbugs on seats, blankets, pillows, and even crawling on the plane’s ceiling. The airline stated that it cleans and sanitizes its aircraft before each flight and takes special precautions if bedbug issues are raised.
Instances of bedbugs on Turkish Airlines flights were first reported in March when a passenger discovered a bedbug on her seat cushion. Subsequent incidents were reported in October on flights to San Francisco and Washington, with passengers experiencing bedbug bites. These pests feed on human blood and leave red, itchy marks when they bite.
Passengers like Patience Titcombe and Kristin Bourgeois shared their experiences of encountering bedbugs on Turkish Airlines flights, highlighting the discomfort and inconvenience caused by these pests. Turkish Airlines assured that they take all feedback seriously and conduct thorough inspections and treatments in response to bedbug reports.
As seen on Fortune.com
