The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an emergency order banning all Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones from air transportation in United States, effective noon Eastern time on Saturday, Oct. 15. The device is not allowed on board on a person, in carry-on baggage, in checked luggage or as cargo on flights to, from or within the U.S. Passengers attempting to travel by air with the Galaxy Note7 will be denied boarding, and anyone who violates the ban may be subject to criminal prosecution, DOT said.
Transport Canada took similar action for flights within, to and from Canada. Numerous individual airlines around the world also have banned the devices.
“The fire hazard with the original Note7 and with the replacement Note7 is simply too great for anyone to risk it and not respond to this official recall,” said Elliot F. Kaye, chairman of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). “I would like to remind consumers once again to take advantage of the remedies offered, including a full refund. It’s the right thing to do and the safest thing to do.”
“The Samsung Galaxy Note7 device is considered a forbidden hazardous material under the Federal Hazardous Material Regulations …, which forbid airline passengers or crew from traveling with lithium cells or batteries or portable electronic devices that are likely to generate a dangerous evolution of heat,” DOT said in a statement.
Samsung, in cooperation with the CPSC, announced Oct. 13 an expanded voluntary recall on all original and replacement Galaxy Note7 devices sold in the U.S.
