During the recall process of the Galaxy Note 7, airline companies and government bodies had warned users about the phone and banned the use of the devices onboard flights. Basically customers could still bring their phones on board, but they weren’t allowed to turn them on and nor were they allowed to charge them.However it seems that a recent notice from the US Department of Transportation has basically banned the phones from being brought onboard a plane. “Individuals who own or possess a Samsung Galaxy Note7 device may not transport the device on their person, in carry-on baggage, or in checked baggage on flights to, from, or within the United States. This prohibition includes all Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices. The phones also cannot be shipped as air cargo.”
The ban comes into effect on the 15th of October at noon ET which is basically tomorrow, so if you are planning on travelling and if for whatever reason you’re still holding onto your Note 7, you won’t be able to bring it onboard with you. No doubt this will inconvenience quite a few passengers, but for the safety of everyone else it makes sense.
According to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, “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.”
Samsung has since issued a statement of their own supporting the DoT’s decision. “Samsung, together with carriers, is working to communicate the U.S. Department of Transportation’s new order to ban all Galaxy Note7 devices in carry-on and checked baggage on flights. We have encouraged airlines to issue similar communications directly to their passengers. Any Galaxy Note7 owner should visit their carrier and retail store to participate in the U.S. Note7 Refund and Exchange Program now. We realize this is an inconvenience but your safety has to remain our top priority.”
Filed in . Read more about Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy Note 7 Recall and Samsung.
