Lufthansa Bans Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Lufthansa has banned passengers from using or charging Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to concerns that their batteries could explode.

A Lufthansa spokesperson told us:

Lufthansa prohibits the use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on board its aircraft for security reasons. The phone has to be completely switched off and may not be charged. This was decided in close coordination with the authorities. This guideline applies to all flights in the Lufthansa Group.

Lufthansa prohibited the use of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on board its planes for security reasons, following a warning from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). This phone has to be completely switched off on board, may not be charged and should not be given in with luggage. This guiedeline is being introduced in close consultation with the responsible authorities and applies to all Lufthansa Group flights.

Following the recall of the Samsung Smartphone Galaxy Note 7, the US national aviation authority has warned against the use of the device on board aircraft. Passengers are being urgently advised not to switch on or charge the telephone, or to place it into check-in baggage, according to a statement by the FAA.

A week ago, Samsung initiated a product recall campaign for its new showcase model due to the risk of fire. The smartphone market leader admitted that the telephone may overhead when charging. The exact cause of the problem is not yet known.

The FAA had previously already cautioned airlines regarding the risks of transporting lithium-ion batteries as freight, and recommends that all batteries be carried as hand luggage. Some airlines had already warned passengers against using or charging a Note 7 in their aircraft.

Lufthansa Group is the largest airline in Europe. It includes:

• Air Dolomiti
• Austrian Airlines
• Swiss International Air Lines
• Edelweiss Air
• Swiss Global Air Lines
• Eurowings
• Germanwings
• Lufthansa Cargo
• Lufthansa CityLine

In the US, The Federal Aviation Administration said:

In light of recent incidents and concerns raised by Samsung about its Galaxy Note 7 devices, the Federal Aviation Administration strongly advises passengers not to turn on or charge these devices on board aircraft and not to stow them in any checked baggage.

Likewise, The European Aviation Safety Agency stated that:

passengers are reminded of the need to inform the cabin crew when a device is damaged, hot, produces smoke, is lost, or falls into the seat structure.