Monday, 17 Oct, 2016
Anyone who’s flown in the last several weeks has heard the flight crew order passengers with Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones — which can catch fire because of an overheating battery — to power down completely.
Last week, however, the Department of Transportation went a giant step further, issuing an emergency order that bans passengers and flight crews from even bringing the Galaxy Note 7 on a flight.
The order, which took effect at noon on Saturday, said the phones may not be carried on board or packed in checked bags on flights to and from the United States or within the country. The phones also can’t be shipped as air cargo.
At first, the government said people who try to board a plane with the phones might face a fine, but now it’s saying passengers will simply not be allowed to board.
But passenger who try to get around the new rule by packing the phone
in their checked luggage may be subject to criminal prosecution and fines.
According to the Department of Transportation, any one failing to comply with the order could face fines up to $179,933 for each violation. A person violating the order could also face criminal prosecution, including imprisonment of up to 10 years.
Clearly, the government is not messing around here. Packing the phones in checked luggage, according to the Department of Transportation, increases the risk of a "catastrophic incident."
There have been nearly 100 reports of batteries in the Note 7 overheating in the U.S., according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Earlier this month, a fire erupted on a Southwest Airlines flight as it prepared for takeoff.
Passengers who are currently traveling with Samsung Galaxy Note7 phones should contact Samsung or their wireless carrier immediately to obtain information about how to return their phones and arrange for a refund or a replacement phone.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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