Summary: Airlines travelers will no longer be able to bring Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices on planes with them starting immediately.
The Transportation Department announced today that all Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones will be prohibited from any airline flights due to its fire risk. There have been nearly 100 reported incidents of the phones overheating and sometimes injuring the owners.
Previous guidelines by the Federal Aviation Administration urged owners not to turn the phones on or charge them during the flight or even pack them in checked luggage. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, “We recognize that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority. We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident inflight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk.”
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Samsung is working to notify all travelers of the ban and has announced plans to stop production of the phone after some updated versions continued to overheat. The first version was recalled. The South Korea-based company said, “We have encouraged airlines to issue similar communications directly to their passengers. We realize this is an inconvenience but your safety has to remain our top priority.” They estimate the recall to cost them $5.3 billion.
Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission Elliot Kaye urges all phone owners to take advantage of the refund for the recalled device. He said, “The fire hazard with the original Note 7 and with the replacement Note 7 is simply too great for anyone to risk it and not respond to this official recall.”
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The phone is currently being investigated after 96 U.S. reports of overheating batteries have been received, 23 of which came after the September 15 recall. There have been 13 reports of burns and 47 of property damage due to the phone also received.
If passengers try to fly with the phone, it will be confiscated and travelers may be fined. If an airline representative sees a traveler with the phone before boarding, they will deny boarding to the passenger until the phone is discarded.
Do you think there should be an alternative option for a few days so that travelers don’t have to throw away their phones? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about Samsung bans, read Samsung’s Sales Ban on Galaxy Tabs May be Lifted.
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