14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung took everyone by surprise when it decided to recall 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to faulty batteries that could cause the devices to catch fire. The choice was taken with consumer safety in mind, although not that many cases were reported, since, apparently, only 0.0024% of batteries were faulty.
Just yesterday, we reported that the FAA in the US was investigating the matter and had yet to make a decision regarding a ban on Galaxy Note 7 phones on airplanes. Now it seems that airlines are taking the matter into their own hands and are warning passengers about the dangers of charging their phones inside aicraft.
The DailyMail reports that two airlines from Australia have warned passengers about charging their Galaxy Note 7 phones inside airplanes, as to avoid incidents where the devices could catch fire. Qantas, Australia's biggest airline, and Virgin Australia, the second biggest airline in the country, have recommended their passengers not to charge Note 7 smartphones in planes.
Passengers weren't banned from taking the phones onboard, considering that incidents only occurred when the handsets were charging.
Samsung Australia intends to recall 51,060 Galaxy Note 7 smartphones
Passengers have also been informed that Samsung Australia made an official recall announcement. Indeed, just a few days ago, Samsung Australia announced that it was recalling 51,060 Note 7 units and advised owners to power down their phones.
In addition, an incident occurred last week in Australia, after a Note 7 caught fire while charging and caused damages of more than $1,000 in a hotel room. Samsung agreed to cover the damages.
Samsung stopped all sales of the Galaxy Note 7, so did third-party retailers and carriers from around world, except China, which had a different battery supplier. The company is expected to provide Note 7 owners with replacements or full refunds, as shipments of new devices are said to start soon and last a few weeks.