A Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is held up with other Note 7 phones on a counter that were returned to a Best Buy on Sept. 15, 2016 in Orem, Utah. (Photo : Getty Images/ George Frey)
A passenger onboard a Virgin airlines flight scared passengers and crew after he named a hotpsot "Galaxy Note 7_1097." The panic caused an emergency situation only for people to learn later that it was a prank.
According to Gadgets 360, the plane was leaving San Francisco for Boston when the incident happened. Since the infamous Note 7 has been banned from all United States Airlines due to cases of explosion, the Wi-Fi was enough reason to cause an alarm among passengers.
After the crew realized the Wi-Fi hotspot had a phrase "Galaxy Note 7" on it, it asked the passenger with the phone to immediately press the call button, BBC reported. The publication quoted the crew saying," This isn't a joke. We're going to turn on the lights (it's 11pm) and search everyone's bag until we find it."
Apparently, when nobody pressed the button, the pilot had to take action and save the situation. He warned the passengers that the flight would have to make an emergency landing if nobody stepped out to take accountability of the Note 7.
After the pilot's announcement, a passenger came out, confessing that they had played a prank. To their amazement, the crew learned that the individual had merely renamed the hotspot and that there was no Galaxy Note 7 onboard.
Several travelers took to Twitter to express their dismay and thoughts. One of them, Lucas Wojciechowski, told the publication that he presumed that the prankster did not face any further action. The incident, however, is said to have caused delay and cancellation of several other flights in Boston.
Open my laptop on the plane and notice a Galaxy Note 7 wifi hotspot https://t.co/y1csn9gOsZ pic.twitter.com/9Z5IJULuPs
— Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016
When I got to the airport (early) today, I found a huge line of people at the counter to my gate. Turns out, the flight had been cancelled.
— Serenity Caldwell (@settern) December 20, 2016
The culprit has since reportedly apologized for the drama that followed his act although nothing has been heard concerning further action against him. Meanwhile, since Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is a probable fire hazard, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned it from flight.
Owners are therefore warned against carrying it to airports because it would otherwise be a federal crime. Wacth the video below for more about the Galaxy Note 7 ban:
