The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just issued a warning for airline passengers not to use the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on planes.
Samsung's latest flagship phablet has been in the spotlight recently, but not for all the right reasons. While it does boast advanced specs and features, it also poses safety concerns related to exploding batteries.
After a massive Galaxy Note 7 recall that may cost the company as much as $1 billion, Samsung continues to support the consequences of its troublesome device. A few days ago, the FAA was considering whether or not to ban the Galaxy Note 7 from flights over concerns of exploding batteries. While it didn't ban the device outright, the FAA has now issued a warning against using the device during flights.
The FAA's decision follows a similar move in Australia, as three major Australian airlines — Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar — banned the use of the Galaxy Note 7 on planes. The airlines did not ban the device altogether, but Galaxy Note 7 owners are not allowed to power it on or charge it while on a plane.
The FAA's warning goes down the same path, banning the use of the device and not the device itself. In addition to warning airline passengers not to power on or charge the Galaxy Note 7 during flights, the FAA also warned passengers not to carry the device in their checked bags. The warning stems from concerns of exploding batteries, following the recent incidents and reports, as well as Samsung's wide recall.
It's highly unusual for the FAA to issue a warning to passengers regarding a specific product, but the tremendous attention the Galaxy Note 7 drew might have something to do with it. The device has been in the spotlight and reports of explosions continue to pile up, with the rechargeable lithium batteries to blame.
Compared to other types of batteries, rechargeable lithium batteries are more prone to overheating if they're damaged, have manufacturing defects or are exposed to high temperatures. Once a rechargeable lithium battery starts to overheat, it reaches a state called "thermal runaway" and the temperature continues to rise to extremely high levels, often leading to a fire.
Samsung recalled the Galaxy Note 7 to fix the issues causing the device's battery to explode and will put the phablet back in the market once it no longer poses fire hazards. Until then, it's best to avoid using the device during flights and replace it as soon as possible.
