After more than one hundred incidents of the now-discontinued Samsung Galaxy Note 7 exploding, popping, and generally being a fire hazard, the Department of Transportation has officially banned them from all flights.

The "emergency order" went into effect at noon on October 15. The phones may not be shipped as cargo.

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"We recognize that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. "We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident inflight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk."

If you are a Galaxy Note 7 owner, do not try to fly with it. The phone is banned completely. Here are the official guidance and policy from the DOT:

  • If you attempt to travel by air with your phone, you will be denied boarding.
  • Packing your phone in your checked baggage increases the risk of a "catastrophic incident." Violating the ban may lead to criminal prosecution and/or fines.
  • If you haven't already, contact Samsung or your wireless carrier for information on returning your phone for a refund or a replacement. You can also call Samsung at 1-844-365-6197.
  • If an airline employee sees you in possession of a Galaxy Note 7 prior to boarding, he or she must deny boarding until you get rid of the phone and your baggage is thoroughly checked.
  • If a flight crew member sees you in possession of the phone in-flight, the crew member must instruct the you to:
    • power off the phone
    • not use or charge it while aboard the aircraft
    • protect it from accidental activation, including disabling any features that may turn on the device, such as alarm clocks
    • keep the device on your person and not in the overhead compartment, seat back pocket, or in any carry-on baggage, for the duration of the flight.

Officially, the DOT says the phone is considered a "forbidden hazardous material under the Federal Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-185), which forbid airline passengers or crew from traveling with lithium cells or batteries or portable electronic devices that are likely to generate a dangerous evolution of heat."

Readers, if you have a Galaxy Note 7, how will deal with this ban? Are you already in the process of replacing your phones?

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Read the original story: Must Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Banned from Airplanes by Carl Unger, who is a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.

(Photo: Twenty20)

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