U.S. bans Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones from air travel

Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport have been reacting to the U.S. ban on Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones from air travel.

The devices are being banned from aircraft in the United States starting on Saturday at noon EDT (1600 GMT) under an emergency order, regulators said on Friday (October 14) after numerous reports of the devices catching fire.

Peter Hertz from Boston told Reuters: “I think it’s a good idea. The worst thing you ever want is fire on an airplane so if these things have had a penchant for catching fire so get them off the plane.”

Fellow passenger Cara Jolly added: “I personally don’t want to be on a flight that has the risk of catching on fire due to a phone.”

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd scrapped its flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone on Tuesday because of incidents where the phones began smoking or caught fire, dealing a huge blow to its reputation. The decision to scrap the Note 7 came after reports of fires in replacement devices prompted a new round of warnings from regulators, phone carriers and airlines.

The order from the U.S. Transportation Department and other agencies bars owners from carrying on the devices or stowing them in checked baggage during flights.

“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 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.”

The Transportation Department warned that passengers who packed the devices in checked luggage raised the risk of “a catastrophic incident.”

“Anyone violating the ban may be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to fines,” the department said in a press statement.