Samsung Galaxy Note 7 owners advised not to use phone on planes in case it explodes

Ariel Gonzalez/YouTube
Francesca Gillett9 September 2016

Owners of the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 have been advised not to use the phone on planes in case it explodes.

US authorities have warned airline passengers against switching on or charging the phones on flights – and even against packing the phones away into checked-in luggage.

Three airlines in Australia have already banned passengers from using the smartphone after Samsung recalled the product last week.

There had been reports of the devices exploding during or after charging, although no incidents have been reported on a plane.

The tech company said battery problems were to blame for the phones catching fire but it was difficult to work out which of the 2.5 million phones shipped around the world were faulty.

The Federal Aviation Administration has now discouraged flyers from using the phone, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia who have put in bans.

It said in a statement: "In light of recent incidents and concerns raised by Samsung about its Galaxy Note 7 devices, the Federal Aviation Administration strongly advises passengers not to turn on or charge these devices on board aircraft and not to stow them in any checked baggage."

After Samsung's recall of its Galaxy Note 7, Qantas said on Thursday it was "requesting that passengers who own [the devices] do not switch on or charge them in-flight."

The phone model was only launched last month and has overall been welcomed by buyers and critics.

Any customers who have already bought the phone will be able to swap it for a new one, Samsung said.

The US trade group Airlines for America said it was "closely monitoring" the Note 7 problem and US airlines could make their own ruling about use of the phone on board.

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