Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones banned in U.S. and Canadian airlines

These emergency orders were issued in response to reports of the phones catching fire and became effective immediately in Canada and U.S. at noon ED Saturday.

Transport officials in both countries warned that carrying the phones in checked luggage increased the potential danger to the flight.

More than 2.5 million of the smartphones had been recalled by Samsung citing an error by the battery manufacturer and the product was discontinued less than two months after its August release by the South Korean company.

Nearly 100 incidents of batteries in Note 7 phones overheating in the United States had already been reported, according to The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, including eruption of one fire on a Southwest Airlines flight earlier this month.

In another case, a Galaxy Note 7 phone left charging in the Jeep by a family in St. Petersburg resulted in the jeep catching fire and destroying the vehicle.

Warning had been issued to passengers earlier by Transport Canada and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration not to power phones off or charge these while on board. The passengers had also been banned to carry these phones in their checked bags

“We recognize that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident inflight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk.”

Samsung, is reported to have stated that it was working with the department to make customers aware of the ban and also requested Note 7 customers to get a refund or exchange their phones by visiting their wireless carrier or retail store.

The customers with any concerns or questions had been asked to visit Samsung’s website or call 1-844-365-6197.

At least three U.S. airlines were reported to add new fire-suppression equipment to fleets in case a cellphone or laptop battery overheats, catches fire that could not be extinguished.

Rechargeable lithium batteries were reported to be more susceptible to overheating than other types of batteries if they were exposed and could lead to “thermal runaway” in which temperatures rise up to very high levels. Even after flames were quenched by water, flames often reappeared.

Lithium batteries are globally used in consumer electronic devices because of its light weight and its capacity to pack more energy into the same space than other types of batteries and, therefore, are liked by the manufacturers.

The International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. agency that sets global aviation safety standards, banned earlier this year bulk shipments of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries as cargo on passenger planes to prevent a spread of fire and causing damage to the plane.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)