But Samsung has not gone the conventional route for issuing a product recall, which would involve working with the CPSC to recall all affected devices. “Consumer safety and peace of mind are our top priority”.
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The Federal Aviation Administration issued a statement Thursday saying that the phone may not be packed in airline passenger’s bags and should not be brought on any flights or charged.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Samsung are urging Americans to stop using the Samsung Galaxy Note7 phone because the phones can overheat and explode while charging.
The updated Galaxy Note 7 is not yet available in all stores, and the CPSC is looking into whether the newer phone “is an acceptable remedy” for customers.
The Canadian Transport Ministry followed suit later on Friday, advising air passengers not to carry the phones on board.
If you travel with a Samsung Note 7, you’re likely on the honor system when deciding whether to use or charge the device during a flight. Samsung has said it plans to expedite new shipments of Galaxy Note 7s with safe batteries, and it is offering $25 gift cards to U.S. Galaxy Note 7 owners who exchange their phones. It is extremely unusual for the FAA to warn passengers about a specific product.
“It’s very scary because most of us sleep next to our phone, have them in our cars and in our homes”, said Michelle Spain, Samsung cellphone owner.
Qantas and Virgin Australia have issued similar warnings.
Samsung, like many other handset makers, uses lithium-ion batteries in its smartphones due to their light weight and long-lasting power.
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The CPSC’s warning comes one day after the FAA banned charging of the Note 7 on planes. The program varies between cellphone carriers, but all major carriers are allowing users to trade for a new Galaxy Note 7, a Galaxy S7 or a Galaxy S7 Edge. “We are asking users to power down their Galaxy Note7s and exchange them now”, Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics America, said in a statement.
