Australian airlines latest to ban Note 7
- by Minnie Bishop
- in Research
- — Oct 17, 2016
Samsung Electronics Co. on Friday offered alternative phones to its India customers who had pre-ordered its flagship Galaxy Note 7 devices, in a bid to appease loyal clients in one of its largest smartphone markets. That means travelers also can not carry the device in checked bags or carry-on luggage.
Travel to Australia where Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways have all announced bans on the device.
"Consumers should immediately stop using and power down all Galaxy Note 7 devices, including Note 7 devices received as replacements in the previous recall", the agency said.
This is updated advice from the previous Qantas Group policy, which allowed carriage of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 provided it was turned off. Anyone observed with one of the phones will be prohibited from boarding an aircraft, the release said.
SIA added that the smartphone also can not be shipped as air cargo.
Samsung recalled around 2.5 million phones in September after complaints of exploding batteries, reports the BBC.
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Under Kim Jong Un , who took power in 2011, the country has carried out its fourth and fifth nuclear tests this year. The first five launch attempts failed, before a successful launch was achieved on the sixth attempt in June.
Those announcements come after USA government regulators announced similar bans.
And if passengers try to stash their Note 7 phones in checked luggage to avoid getting caught, they face "criminal prosecution".
Now the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken it a step further, banning the devices from commercial airliners entirely.
"We encourage any Note 7 users to be sure to get a refund or change the device with other models before any flight", the company said in a statement, Saturday.
"Passengers who attempt to evade the ban by packing their phone in checked luggage are increasing the risk of a catastrophic incident, " the Department of Transportation said.
Rechargeable lithium batteries are more susceptible to overheating than other types of batteries if they are exposed to high temperatures, are damaged or have manufacturing flaws. USA air carriers are stepping up their onboard fire safety precautions against the possibility of Note 7s or any other mobile devices catching fire, including fire-containment bags, special flight crew training, and high-temperature fire suppression extinguishers.