Thai telecom regulator has banned the import of a batch of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones that have faulty batteries.

Thai Airways International and its budget subsidiary Thai Smile Airways have also joined other carriers in banning the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from checked baggage and being used onboard.

The national telecom regulator has banned Thai Samsung Electronics from importing a batch of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones associated with a technical flaw that caused the phone to burst into flames.

Several airlines, including the national carrier Thai Airways, have imposed the same ban including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Etihad and Virgin Australia.

“The powering up and charging of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones is prohibited on all our flights,” Singapore Airlines (SIA) said in a statement yesterday.

National Broadcast and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said Samsung had not yet imported its flagship Galaxy Note 7 model into Thailand.

Takorn added that the company could import Galaxy Note 7 smartphones that did not have safety problems at a later date, but it would have to show the NBTC that the models complied with the required electrical safety standards.

The NBTC move came after Samsung recalled 2.5 million phones last week after reports of the device exploding during or after charging.

Airline passengers were warned by US authorities not to use or charge the phones while on board planes.

Thai Airways International and its budget subsidiary Thai Smile Airways have joined other carriers in banning the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from checked baggage and being used onboard.

Pratana Patanasiri, THAI vice-president of aviation safety, said the ban was due to global recalls and sale suspensions of the Note 7 device after a number of batteries exploded. A similar explanation was also posted on the Thai Smile Airways website.

Mr Pratana advised passengers that in general, they should always tell flight attendants if their electronic devices break, become abnormally hot or are lost during flights.

He said the action falls in line with the safety directives of THAI and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

The growing list of other airlines that have imposed the same ban includes Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Etihad and Virgin Australia.

 

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