Looks like that break Samsung needs, is still a far distance away. Aboard an Indigo flight, a Samsung Note 2, started to emit smoke while in the overhead baggage bin. A passenger spotted the smoke and alerted the cabin crew, who then took remedial action. Although, no harm was done and the flight reached it’s destination safely, Samsung phones seem to be under scrutiny.
Samsung has already faced a global down play with the Galaxy Note 7 Recall, the company has lost billion on the market value and bad news continues to pour in.
The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has called in the Samsung top brass in for a meeting on Monday. If the DGCA decides to ban Samsung phone aboard airlines, it may set the fate of Samsung phones permanently in India.
Samsung in their typical “no responsibility” manner have issued a statement :
We are aware of an incident involving one of our devices. At Samsung, customer safety is our highest priority. We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information, and are looking into the matter.
The statement comes from a “Samsung Spokesperson” at a time when no employee is ready to put a face to the fiasco and step up. Samsung has handled the whole Note 7 recall poorly, and more bad news seems to continue. DGCA made a statement :
We advise flyers to exercise caution while flying with Samsung Note devices . They should either keep these devices switched off or not travel with them”
So did Indigo Airlines:
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.Taking precautionary measure, the cabin crew on priority relocated all passengers on other seats, and further observed smoke being emitted from a Samsung note 2 which was placed in the baggage (of a passenger) in the overhead bin. 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.
Samsung India Service centres are refusing to replace the Note 7 handsets bought oversees, despite them being flagged as hazardous on Samsung’s own website. As a rule of a Global recall Samsung should recall all phones, whether sold through official or unofficial channels as they pose threat to the well being of human life at this moment.
