Pakistan's national-carrier PIA yesterday banned the use of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones onboard the aircraft amid measures taken by other countries in the wake of batteries of the smartphone exploding.
"On reports that faulty batteries in Samsung Galaxy Note 7 caused some handsets to explode Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has imposed a ban on carrying this smartphone in flights," an airline official said.
"In view of recent reports about Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices, and the international warnings to airline passengers not to carry this smartphone during flights, PIA passengers are also strongly advised not to carry it, not even in their check-in luggage, as it may compromise aircraft and passenger safety," PIA Spokesman Daniyal Gilani said in a statement issued here.
On September 10, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission asked Note 7 owners to stop using it.
Some other international airlines — Qantas, Virgin Australia and Etihad -- have also taken similar steps, asking customers not to 'use or charge Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 during flights.
India's aviation regulator DGCA had also prohibited the use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones onboard on Friday.
Samsung last week has agreed to replace every single Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, after at least 35 reports that the phone's batteries could overheat and explode.
In a statement, Samsung confirmed that it's collaborating with the CPSC, and also says it's no longer selling or shipping phones affected by the issue.
"We are asking users to power down their Galaxy Note 7s and exchange them now," said Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics America.
Samsung says new Note 7s will be issued to existing buyers "upon completion of the CPSC process," and neither Samsung nor the CPSC offered a specific timetable beyond "as soon as possible."
