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Samsung working with feds to investigate new Galaxy Note 7 fire on U.S. flight

By Cosmin Vasile

Updated: Oct 07, 2016, 4:37 AM

Samsung working with feds to investigate new Galaxy Note 7 fire on U.S. flight

The never ending Samsung Galaxy Note 7 saga opened another chapter a few days ago when another smartphone caught fire in on a Southwest Airlines flight.

The new chapter will probably be closed the moment Samsung completes its investigation and provides us with the results. The malfunctioning of another Galaxy Note 7 doesn't come as a surprise, but what's really mind blowing is the fact that this particular unit has been tagged with all the recognition signs to show customers that it's a “safe” model.

The smartphone's packaging has a small black square and if you enter the IMEI number on Samsung's website, it will tell you that it's a new, safe Galaxy Note 7 model. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like these supposedly safe units are really safe, hence the following statement coming from U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission chairman Elliott F. Kaye.

CPSC is moving expeditiously to investigate this incident. Thankfully, reports indicate that all of the passengers were able to make it off the plane without harm. Agency staff has already reached out to the FAA and Samsung to gather the facts about the incident. Agency staff will also reach out to the consumer who experienced a serious incident with his phone. I want to reiterate my call for consumers who have the recalled Galaxy Note 7 to keep their smartphones powered down and to immediately take advantage of the remedies being offered by Samsung. Consumers should know that one of the remedies is a refund.

As you've probably noticed, Kaye's statement suggests that customers should rather ask for a refund than replace their faulty Galaxy Note 7 unit with a new one.

So, while we're waiting for the investigation to commence, we've got to ask: are you willing to purchase a Galaxy Note 7 phone knowing that even the “safe” ones aren't really safe?

source: CPSC via TechnoBuffalo, The Verge

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Cosmin, a tech journalist with a career spanning over a decade, brought a wealth of experience to PhoneArena. His expertise lies in brands like Samsung and Nokia, and he has a keen interest in innovative technologies. After a brief stint in PR, Cosmin returned to tech journalism in 2016, committed to delivering clear and objective news. When he's not writing or appearing as a guest on TV and radio shows, Cosmin enjoys playing RPGs, watching Netflix, and nurturing his passion for history and travel.