Fear of explosion
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING the announcement of a recall on the recently released Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Smartphone on the market, Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Airlines has issued an advisory on persons travelling with this communication device and one of its accessories.
In a statement issued on Friday (Sept. 9), the airline said, “Following a directive issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA), effective immediately, Caribbean Airlines has enforced a ban on the in-flight use and battery charging of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, on all flights.”
Further, the statement indicated that the said devices should not be stored in checked-in luggage.
Just over a week ago, the markers of the Samsung device released their new flagship phone but that was met with several hiccups.
According to CNN.com, the device has been exploding in a number of cases, while others have battery issues.
But after coming under several criticisms from US Authorities, the phone maker was forced to asked its reportedly over 2.5 million purchasers of the device to turn them off and return them to the company.
CAL, on the other hand, is not taking any chances with the device, and as such has indicated that the mobile phone could be carried in passengers' carry-on baggage or on their person, but they are not to be used or charged on-board the aircraft.
The problem with the Samsung device is that its Lithon batteries have been prone to catching fires. Recently the Japanese company had indicated that they had found 24 devices to have been defective.
A number of international airlines have taken the same position as CAL, urging passengers to have the phone be placed in their hand luggage instead of their checked pieces.
