Feds warn against using recalled Samsung phones on planes

The Federal Aviation Administration is warning airline passengers against using Samsung’s recalled Galaxy Note 7 phones after several have caught fire in recent weeks.

The FAA urged travelers to avoid charging or turning on the phones while on a flight or stowing them in checked baggage.

{mosads}“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,” the agency said in a statement.

Samsung is recalling the phones — which launched in August — following a string of reports that the rechargeable lithium ion batteries were causing some of the devices to explode. A family in Florida reportedly left a Galaxy Note 7 charging in their car when it caught fire and set the vehicle ablaze.

Rechargeable lithium batteries are used in a variety of electronics but can overheat if they are damaged or exposed to high heat.
 
The FAA has banned e-cigarettes in checked baggage for similar reasons, while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has warned the trucking industry about the potential dangers of storing and transporting electronic cigarettes.

The International Civil Aviation Organization also has prohibited passenger planes from carrying bulk shipments of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries until better safety mechanisms are created.