UPDATE: New information has emerged revealing the handset in use on the flight was a replacement Galaxy Note 7, issued after the recall.
The user, Brian Green, claims to have received a new device from US network AT&T on September 21 after turning in his faulty handset.
Pictures provided by Green show it is marked with the identifying black square on the box, while Green also says it features the green battery icon in the menu bar, also used by Samsung to identify replacement handsets (via The Verge).
Should this be anything other than a freak coincidence, it’s difficult to know where Samsung goes from here with the Note 7.
Reports have already suggested replacement devices are still exploding, but a supposedly-safe device exploding on a plane is by far the most worrying and high-profile instance yet.
Samsung is now facing another disastrous turn in what has already been the arguably the biggest disaster in smartphone history.
Original report continues below…
Faulty Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handsets are still causing havoc weeks after the devices were recalled due to a serious fire risk.
The latest incident involves a handset exploding shortly before takeoff on a Southwest Airlines flight in the United States.
After the Federal Aviation Administration classed the devices as a serious flight risk back in September, many airlines have banned their use. As thus Brian Green powered down the handset as he took his seat.
”
“He took it out of his pocket and threw it on the ground.”
As a result, the flight from Louisville to Baltimore was evacuated as smoke made its way into the cockpit and burned the flight’s carpet.
The 75 passengers will be relieved the overheating incident took place while the plane was still on the ground.
Related: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 banned from cruise ships
On September 8 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.”
The latest damaging incident comes as Samsung desperately attempts to replace all of the faulty handsets still out in the wild.
Safe versions of the handset are slowly making their way back to store shelves, but on today’s evidence, Samsung isn’t doing enough to ensure the faulty devices are out of people’s hands.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
