New Delhi, Sep 23 (Agencies) : The Galaxy Note 7 battery-gate fiasco is still far from over, and already, Samsung seems to have found itself embroiled in fresh controversy. According to a TOI report, a Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which belongs to the same Note-series of devices, allegedly caught fire on a Chennai-bound plane on Friday morning. So much so that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had to step in and summon Samsung officials on Monday.
"The crew noticed smoke from the bin and found the device was emitting smoke after possibly catching fire. They used fire extinguishers on it," a DGCA spokesman was quoted as saying in the report.
The DGCA has further advised flyers "to exercise caution while flying with Samsung Note devices," which means basically all Samsung Note phablets are a flight risk in India now. The DGCA has directed flyers to refrain from carrying Samsung's Note devices with them while travelling. Should they decide to carry them, the phones must be switched off, says the directive.
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Indigo too has issued a statement on the incident, confirming it. "IndiGo confirms that a few passengers travelling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning (September 23, 2016) and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board. The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the hat-rack of seat 23 C and simultaneously informed the pilot-in-command who further alerted the ATC of the situation on board... The crew discharged the fire extinguisher which is as per the standard operating procedures prescribed by the aircraft manufacturer, and quickly transferred the Samsung Note 2 into a container filled with water in lavatory," the airline said in a statement.
Previously, the DGCA had issued an advisory prohibiting the use of the infamous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on-board an aircraft. The Note 7, which has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, after having received a string of positive critic reviews, has been termed a flight risk by the FAA in the US as well.
Here is what the DGCA had to say about the Note 7:
"In the light of recent incidents involving battery issue with Samsung about its Galaxy Note 7 devices globally, travelling public and airlines are advised to ensure the following for the safety of aircraft operations and its occupants:
Not to turn on or charge Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mobile phone on-board the aircraft.
Not to stow them in any checked-in package."