Four airlines ban Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones
Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways have banned passengers from using or charging Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on planes over concerns their batteries could explode or catch fire.
The airlines have introduced the ban following Samsung’s recall of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, which was launched in August.
A Qantas spokesperson said the airline was asking owners of the phone not switch it on or charge it inflight.
“Following Samsung’s product recall announcement, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices may not be used or charged on board Virgin Australia flights,” a Virgin spokesperson said.
Samsung Australia on Monday recalled 51,060 Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, after its parent company found some of the batteries have exploded or caught fire.
The South Korean tech giant has said there were 35 instances of Note 7s catching fire or exploding.
Samsung has sold around 2.5 million Note 7s around the world, with an estimated one in 42,000 units at risk of having a faulty battery.
-AAP
