Should you be the proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (and are still hanging on to it) don’t plan on taking it on any long trips.
Transport Canada has joined the U.S. Department of Canada in banning the smart phone from all aircraft, issuing a Notice to Airmen on Oct. 14. The safety measure applies to both carry-on and checked baggage.
Since their introduction in August there have been documented reports of Note 7s overheating and bursting into flame, prompting a Sept. 15 recall by Samsung, and then a second recall on Oct. 13, when replacement devices showed the same behaviour. On October 11, Samsung suspended the manufacture and sale of the Galaxy Note 7.
“Canada has one of the safest aviation systems in the world, and protecting the safety of passengers and flight crews is paramount. When notified of any potential threat to aviation safety, the government does not hesitate to take action in the best interests of Canadians,” said Minister of Transport Marc Garneau in a release.
The department is also in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States, which is responding to the same concerns over the safety of airline crews and passengers.
“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 Notice to Airmen advises air carriers to deny boarding to a passenger in possession of a Galaxy Note 7 unless the passenger gives up the device, including removing it from their baggage, both carry-on and checked.
