UAE bans Samsung Note 7 on national flights

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has banned the use of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 phones aboard flights operated by national airlines due to concerns over the phone’s batteries catching fire or even exploding.

Passengers are advised not to turn on or charge Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 phones onboard the aircraft and not to stow them in checked baggage, Director-General of the GCAA, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, said in a statement.

The announcement was prompted by recent concerns raised by Samsung about its new Galaxy Note 7 devices, after customers reported incidents in which the batteries caught fire or exploded.  

Samsung is replacing all Note 7 devices worldwide after 35 reported incidents in which a battery flaw led to fires or explosions.

Also Emirates Airline has confirmed that it will advise its passengers not to turn on or charge their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones

during flights or stow them in checked baggage due to due to concerns over the phone’s batteries catching fire or even exploding.

"As advised by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Emirates Airline can confirm that with immediate effect it will  advise customers not to turn on or charge their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones during flights or stow them in checked baggage due to concerns over the phone’s fire-prone batteries," a company spokesman said in a statement.

The UAE carrier apologised for the inconvenience caused, and said the safety of its ?customers and crew is of utmost priority.

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