US DOT Bans Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Phones From Planes

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an emergency order banning Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones on all flights in the US.

DOT said people “may not transport the device on their person, in carry-on baggage, or in checked baggage on flights to, from, or within the United States”.

The prohibition includes all Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices, DOT said. The phones also cannot be shipped as air cargo.

The ban goes into effect on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at noon ET.

“We recognise that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. “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.”

Passengers attempting to fly with their Note 7s will be denied boarding, and anyone trying to evade the ban by putting their Note 7s in checked luggage may be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to fines, DOT said.

The Galaxy Note 7 vice is considered a forbidden hazardous material under the Federal Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-185), which forbid airline passengers or crew from travelling with lithium cells or batteries or portable electronic devices that are likely to generate a dangerous evolution of heat.