Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia ban use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7s
Three Australian airlines have banned the use of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 on board over fears that they could set fire on board.
In a move that could be mirrored by other airlines, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia said that passengers would not be able to operate the phones during flights. The carriers said that they could still be to brought onto aircraft but were not to be operated nor plugged into USB charging sockets.
"Following Samsung Australia's recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 personal electronic device we are requesting that passengers who own them do not switch on or charge them in flight," said a Qantas spokesman.
Samsung, the world's biggest smart phone manufacturer, has sold 2.5m Galaxy Note 7s already. But the South Korean-based company was forced into an embarrassing recall following reports that some phones were going up in flames while charging.
Read more: Samsung recalls 'exploding' Galaxy Note 7 smartphones
Samsung Australia said in a statement that it had been in contact with Qantas and Virgin Australia following the product recall.
Reports surfaced yesterday that the Federal Aviation Administration is considering a similar move for airlines in the US, but not final decision had been reached.
In February the International Civil Aviation Organisation banned lithium-ion batteries from checked luggage following concerns from experts that they presented a fire risk.
Airlines have previously banned hoverboards from planes for similar reasons.