FAA warns airline passengers not to use Samsung phone

ByThe Associated Press WTVD logo
Friday, September 9, 2016
Samsung Galaxy Note 7s have been recalled by the Korean electronics giant.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7s have been recalled by the Korean electronics giant.
Richard Drew-AP

WASHINGTON (WTVD) -- Aviation safety officials took the extraordinary step of warning airline passengers not to turn on or charge a new-model Samsung smartphone during flights following numerous reports of the devices catching fire.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued the warning Thursday night, citing "recent incidents and concerns raised by Samsung about its Galaxy Note 7 devices."

It is extremely unusual for the FAA to warn passengers about a specific product.

Passengers were also urged not to put the phones in checked bags.

Samsung recently stopped selling the phones and recalled more than 2 million of them after reports that the phones have spontaneously caught fire.

In one case, a family in St. Petersburg, Florida, reported a Galaxy 7 phone left charging in their Jeep caught fire, destroying the vehicle.

RELATED: FLORIDA MAN'S SMARTPHONE EXPLODES, CATCHES JEEP ON FIRE

Samsung recalled the smartphones in 10 countries last week, following 35 reports of the phones catching fire or exploding.

MORE INFO ABOUT THE NOTE 7 RECALL ON SAMSUNG'S WEBSITE

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