The recall of some 2.5 million devices could cost Samsung as much as $5 billion, and the company’s shares closed down 3.9 percent Friday. The owner of the Jeep stated the phone was in the center console charging.
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“We are asking users to power down their Galaxy Note 7s and exchange them as soon as possible”, Koh Dong-jin, head of Samsung’s smartphone business, said in a statement.
Reports that the phones’ batteries have combusted while charging or in normal use prompted the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to stop using the Note 7 device.
“We are expediting replacement devices so that they can be provided through the exchange programme as conveniently as possible and in compliance with related regulations”, the statement added.
Scandinavian Airlines said Saturday that it has prohibited passengers from using the Galaxy Note 7 on its flights because of concerns about fires.
It advised consumers to use replacement phones which would be temporarily loaned by the firm until a new Galaxy Note 7 equipped with fault-free batteries is provided.
The U.S. was among the first countries to take a step following the recall.
American and Japanese aviation authorities have urged passengers not to turn on or charge the large-screen phones while on their planes. The FAA already warned airline passengers late Thursday not to turn on or charge the Galaxy Note 7 during flights and not to put the smartphone in their checked bags. A Reuters’ dispatch on Saturday said top airlines globally had banned their use during flights, which included carriers from the GCC region.
Since the global launch of the oversized “phablet” smartphone in August, several users have posted images on social media showing the charred device, saying it suddenly caught fire. Samsung has said replacement Note 7s will be available in some markets including South Korea and the United States from September 19.
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Samsung has now identified the affected batteries and stopped sales and shipments of those devices.
