Samsung Galaxy Note 2 caught fire on a Singapore-Chennai IndiGo flight when the plane was about to land. According to DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), the phone was kept in the overhead bin.
“The crew noticed smoke from the bin and found the device was emitting smoke after possibly catching fire. They used fire extinguishers on it,” stated a DGCA spokesperson.
Carrying Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on flights has already been banned in some countries due to the poor manufacturing of the smartphone. A lot of users reported that the smartphone were exploding/catching fire while charging. However the company has recalled almost all the devices to fix the issue and is currently working on replacements.
“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,” stated IndiGo. IndiGo further added “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.”
DGCA advises flyers to exercise caution while flying with Samsung Note devices. DGCA further said, they should either keep these devices switched off or not travel with them. DGCA has also asked airlines to take care of flyers carrying such devices.
“We are aware of an incident involving one of our devices. We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information, and are looking into the matter,” stated a Samsung spokesperson.