FAA considers banning the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from flying on U.S. airlines

posted by Alan F. / Sep 06, 2016, 10:36 PM

FAA considers banning the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from flying on U.S. airlines

As a rule, the FAA isn't in favor of allowing items on a plane that can go "boom!" The agency would prefer that airplanes stay in the sky until they slowly descend onto the runway of their destination. With that in mind, the FAA got together with the TSA and major U.S. airlines this weekend to determine whether the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 should be banned on flights.

Unless you were put into a coma for medical reasons, you are probably aware that a handful of Galaxy Note 7 phablets have exploded while charging, leading Samsung to halt shipments of the device. The company has also stopped selling the handset, and is exchanging units sold for other phones. U.S. carriers are exchanging sold models, while some who bought the device are playing Russian Roulette by continuing to operate the phone. This afternoon, we told you that an Australian hotel room caught on fire thanks to a Note 7. We also recommend that anyone with the device should trade it in right away.

Meanwhile, the FAA has yet to make a decision about whether to allow the Galaxy Note 7 to board a plane. Actually, what the FCC does with the device is largely up to Samsung. The manufacturer has not officially recalled the phone, as pointed out by Consumer Reports. If it decides to do so, government entities will need to get involved, and anyone selling the device can be criminally charged. If the Galaxy Note 7 is recalled, the device will not be allowed inside an aircraft whether carried by passenger or crew. The phablet will also be prohibited from entering an aircraft as carry on or checked luggage.

"The FAA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration are working on guidance related to this issue. If the device is recalled by the manufacturer, airline crew and passengers will not be able to bring recalled batteries or electronics that contain recalled batteries in the cabin of an aircraft, or in carry-on and checked baggage."-FAA spokesman

One million Galaxy Note 7 units have been sold since the phone launched in the middle of last month. Samsung has voluntarily recalled 2.5 million units. As long as the recall remains voluntary, it is up to each airline to decide whether the phablet is allowed on board its flights. If the FCC gets involved and decides to ban the phone from flying, all U.S. airlines will be forced to follow the decision.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

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source: Gizmodo

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41 Comments

21. lyndon420

Posts: 6737; Member since: Jul 11, 2012

Let me guess...you also text while driving because you're a good driver, and haven't killed anyone yet right? I'm sure everyone on that plane would applaud your bravery.

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 11:09 PM 8

2. ChickenDinner

Posts: 30; Member since: Feb 14, 2016

Airlines: Sir, you cannot board the plane with your 3 note 7's TechieXP: Yes I can, and here is why. BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.....better than iPhone.... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH....iSheep..... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH...Benchmarks... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH...real multitasking... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. See? Airlines: You still cannot board the plane.

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 10:40 PM 34

7. Rafishant

Posts: 395; Member since: Oct 13, 2015

Oh my god! You made my day.. I meant night ROFL ROFL ROFL

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 10:48 PM 10

10. Rafishant

Posts: 395; Member since: Oct 13, 2015

Where is TechieXP?

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 10:57 PM 0

14. Johnnokia

Posts: 1158; Member since: May 27, 2012

Busy in the long queue returning his 3 Note 7. Lol

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 11:00 PM 12

46. Wiencon

Posts: 2278; Member since: Aug 06, 2014

Maybe one of his Note's exploded in his ass

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 2:46 AM 1

24. jaychildz

Posts: 144; Member since: May 31, 2013

Truly lmao

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 11:49 PM 0

39. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

http://mentalfloss.com/article/28695/6-levels-extreme-apple-fandom ChickenDinner, Rafishant, Johnnokia, samsungsheep all the endless trolling of one Level 7 Apple fanboy.

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 1:02 AM 4

58. sissy246

Posts: 7070; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

LOL +20

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 7:54 AM 0

20. MANOFSTEEL

Posts: 127; Member since: Nov 25, 2015

Ha Ha Ha, dude you killed him....lol.....!!!!!

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 11:07 PM 2

43. Podrick

Posts: 1284; Member since: Aug 19, 2015

Dude, thats too short lol.

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 1:48 AM 0

47. Wiencon

Posts: 2278; Member since: Aug 06, 2014

This is greatest post ever

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 2:46 AM 0

60. iushnt

Posts: 3086; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

This was hell funny

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 8:32 AM 0

4. talon95

Posts: 994; Member since: Jul 31, 2012

As if they would know if it was a new replacement or the old one. They should ban all phones, tablets and laptops while they're at it. You're more likely to sit on you iPhone 6 and bend it causing the battery to rupture and explode.

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 10:45 PM 1

6. No_Sammy_No_Gimmicks

Posts: 147; Member since: Jun 10, 2015

TechieXP: I would rather do some time in jail than leave my Note 7 behind, so I am boarding with my phone.

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 10:47 PM 5

12. NarutoKage14

Posts: 1318; Member since: Aug 31, 2016

Thanks for covering the tip i submitted!

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 11:00 PM 0

15. natypes

Posts: 1110; Member since: Feb 02, 2015

Flew from Denver to Memphis it my Note 7 today.

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 11:01 PM 1

17. Fona13A unregistered

I knew 9/11 was an inside job. Go f**k yourselves, inside job deniers!

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 11:04 PM 1

23. ReticentHamster

Posts: 153; Member since: Jan 19, 2015

Goodness, fanboy wars all around. Isn't anyone going ro actually comment on the article? Anyway, I see the reasoning for disallowing the phone on planes, but would that actually gain anything? Haven't all the phones that have exploded done so only while charging? If so, I feel like banning the phone on flights would be a meaningless effort. If they can explode randomly while not on charge, then it may be warranted. Ironically, though, the percent chance of a Note7 exploding on a plane (0.0024% or less) is probably the same chance of any other lethal plane incident.

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 11:46 PM 0

25. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

There are charger outlets on planes you know, and one incident on a flight puts 100s at risk...

posted on Sep 06, 2016, 11:52 PM 0

61. ReticentHamster

Posts: 153; Member since: Jan 19, 2015

Wow, I didn't even know planes had charging points. I obviously don't fly much. :) And you're right - there is a huge potential cost in life if just one incident occurs. As somebody below just said, now there is a report of a unit exploding without input from a charger, so I'm wavering in my "the percentage is low, it'll be okay" attitude. We'll see what happens.

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 8:36 AM 0

30. NarutoKage14

Posts: 1318; Member since: Aug 31, 2016

True. It's not like they're incinerating under the same conditions as "hoverboards". Any Note 7 is 1000x safer than one of those deadly contraptions.

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 12:37 AM 0

36. Deelron

Posts: 22; Member since: Aug 22, 2016

The guy on Reddit today said the one he saw pop was not being charged at the time, for what it's worth.

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 12:58 AM 1

27. Skimshaddy

Posts: 126; Member since: Feb 23, 2016

Lets just ban all planes from flying period lol. I hate flying.

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 12:08 AM 0

28. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made this joke last week about airlines banning the Note and boom, it happens. You can't make this stuff up folks!

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 12:18 AM 0

29. Jimrod

Posts: 1605; Member since: Sep 22, 2014

I don't see how a blanket ban can work - staff would have to check thoroughly which would put yet another delay in place at airports, all li-ion battery devices have the potential to catch fire or explode so where do you draw the line? I guess Samsung's own recall could help make the Note 7 easier to put on a ban list though, the best thing would probably be to ban charging of all electronic devices in-flight since that's when they're most susceptible to overheating.

posted on Sep 07, 2016, 12:19 AM 2

31. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

just some of their drama, to show that they care about this case, lol... chance of winning slot in first try is much bigger than getting faulty note7 unit, and chance for it to catch fire is even more low than that, and chance for it to combust on plane is practically 0... and for the worst luck, it won't really go "BOOM", it will just spewing out some toxic fume, just like all other li-ion.. and plane attendant has been trained to deal with this case (and it happened a few times in the past... and its not note7)