By Peer Viqar Ul Aslam
New Delhi – Samsung’s recalled Galaxy Note 7 smartphone has been banned from U.S. airline flights due to the potential of its batteries exploding.
The order was passed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) after an announcement about Samsung ending production of the phone entirely. The ban has been in place since October 15.
FAA made the decision to ban the smartphone after reports suggested dozens of the recalled phones had been catching fire, including one on a Southwest Airlines jet that was parked at the gate Louisville International Airport. Experts have been blaming the faulty batteries as the cause of these explosions, and have deemed the phone as a high risk on airplanes.
“We recognize that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority, we are taking this additional step because even one fire incident inflight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement on 14 October, 2016 .
Now other airlines across the world have started to ban the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 completely, and the phone will neither be allowed turned off on the plane nor will it be allowed in a check-in luggage.
Morocco’s official airplane Royal Air Maroc has already issued travel advisory to not charge or carry the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on board.
“Following recent incidents and concerns raised by Samsung about the Galaxy Note 7 and the recommendations of the FAA…Royal Air Morocco shall inform passengers of the prohibition of lighting or to recharge the on-board equipment and the prohibition of their acceptance in all hold baggage. This is to ensure passenger safety and that of the plane.”
Carriers in Australia, Asia and Europe put the phone on a prohibited list now and more airlines are issuing statements about their ban of Samsung Note Galaxy Note 7.
Soon after the complete ban on Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones by FAA [spell out] and PHMSA [spell out] on all U.S. airline flights due to the risk of its exploding batteries, it is now confirmed that Samsung has recalled all its Galaxy Note 7 phones and is providing refunds to all its customers. Apart from the brand name damage, this product failure will cost Samsung up to $17 billion.
Meanwhile, the company’s stock price has also taken a substantial hit after the Galaxy Note 7’s nixing. The stock price fell by 8 per cent today, its biggest percentage decline since October 2008, as investors wiped some $19 billion off the overall value of the company.
