The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency order to ban Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on planes. The Secretary of Transportation revealed that they are taking this additional step to stop incidents from happening.
The United States Department of Transportation, Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the FAA announced on its official website that they have issued an emergency order to ban the smartphone devices from air transportation in the US. Those who own or possess the smartphone may not transport the device on their own, in carry-on baggage, or in check baggage. It cannot be shipped as air cargo.
The ban will go into effect on Oct. 2016, at noon Eastern Time. In a previous announcement, the owners were allowed to bring the phones, but they were told to power them down, and they will not use, charge or stow the device in checked baggage.
Recently, Samsung and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission had announced a second recall on the phone. This was the result of recent reports of the device overheating and exploding when used. The smartphone manufacturer has terminated its production of the phones, and they are expecting to lose billions of dollars after this blow.
Secretary Anthony Foxx said on the official website of DOT that they know that banning these devices from airlines might inconvenience some passengers. He wants to prioritize the safety of all the passengers aboard the aircraft, which is why they will take this additional step. He explained that one fire incident inflight could cause severe personal injury and put many lives at risk.
The air carrier must deny boarding to the passenger if a representative has found a Note 7 device on that person before boarding. Anyone found out violating the ban may be subject to criminal prosecution with fines.
Samsung emailed CNet a statement that they have told other airlines to tell their passengers directly about the ban. They also said that any owner should visit their carrier and retail store to participate in the US Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Refund and Exchange Program right away. They wanted to prioritize the safety of their customers even if it is an inconvenience for them.
Check out the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Official trailer video below: