Samsung Galaxy Note7 Users Urged to Turn Off Phones

On Thursday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said travelers should not use or charge them while in the air, or stow them in checked luggage.

In a warning issued today, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission warned owners of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices to “power them down and stop charging or using” the devices.

The country’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement on Friday that it would not prevent passengers from bringing the phone onto aircraft, or stop them from charging the device during flight.

There’s bound to be slack time after every product recall announcement where some affected owners haven’t heard about the issue, and Samsung’s recent Galaxy Note 7 recall apparently hasn’t caught everybody’s attention just yet.

The terms of the CPSC approved recall will be announced as they are available.

Samsung issued a voluntary recall after the company confirmed a battery defect could result in a Note 7 catching fire or exploding. Apple announced its new iPhone earlier this week and Samsung’s mobile division was counting on momentum from the Note 7’s strong reviews and higher-than-expected demand. It is extremely unusual for the FAA to warn passengers about a specific product.

The airlines were not directed to do so by government officials, but rather took the decision on their own after Samsung Australia – one of 10 recall markets – halted sales and began exchanging existing models. The agency said it was working with Samsung to launch an official recall as soon as possible.

A spokesman for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration couldn’t say if their baggage screeners would be asked to check for the devices either in carry-on or checked bags.

“There was a tiny problem in the manufacturing process, so it was very hard to figure out”, Koh told reporters at a news conference.

That prompted the world’s three largest airlines by passenger traffic – American, Delta and United – to start telling passengers at the gate and on board aircraft to keep the phones switched off until they deplane.