For the first time ever in India or any other country, a mobile phone has been banned from usage inside aircraft, because of it’s dangerous battery, which can explode any moment.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the latest offering from Samsung has been deemed as dangerous and explosive, just like a time-bomb. Such is the scare that The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked all airports to stop passengers from using the phone inside the plane.
And in case the passenger is carrying it in the check-in baggage, then the handset should be kept switched off.
In an order, DGCA said, “In light of the recent incidents involving battery incidents with Samsung about its Galaxy Note 7 devices globally, traveling public and airlines are advised not to switch on these mobiles during the flight or stow them in any checked in baggage,”
It’s not DGCA alone which has triggered such panic warning to protect aircrafts from getting exploded – official airline controls of half a dozen countries, including USA has issued such warnings.
US Federal Aviation Authority had issued similar orders few days back, notifying all passengers not to carry the defective Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handsets while travelling in aircrafts. Later on, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia and Delta also issued similar warnings.
Interestingly, Korean Air, the official airlines of South Korea, where Samsung is headquartered, hasn’t issued any such warning. As per the officials, they have met Samsung officials, and they have been asked to allow to passengers to use Note 7 inside aircrafts.
But other airlines are not taking the risk, and have issued prior warning to safeguard all the passengers and the aircraft. Even Samsung and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have asked buyers not to use Note 7 handsets.
Recall Can Cost Samsung $1 billion; But Loss of Goodwill Is More Serious
Due to repeated incidents of batteries getting exploded, Samsung has already said that they will recall 2.5 million Note 7 handsets, all over the world. All customers will get new Note 7 handsets, and in India, due to the delay of shipment, Samsung is also giving a free VR Gear to compensate the delay.
However, this recall may cost Samsung over $1 billion in expenses, as per estimates from Bloomberg from Credit Suisse Group AG, Daishin Securities Co. and Pelham Smithers Associates
Although Samsung hasn’t yet officially acknowledged the expenses incurred for recalling over 2.5 million handsets, Koh Dong Jin, the head of Samsung’s smartphone business said that it was a ‘heartbreaking amount’.
As per available reports, 70% of the faulty batteries were supplied by Samsung, however, 30% of them were supplied by Amperex Technology, which is a company based in China.
Besides the financial losses, it’s the loss of goodwill and reputation which is being talked about most in this case. Airlines regulators banning the usage of a phone is a never-before-heard news, and the overall impression of Samsung has certainly taken a beating here.
Chang Sea Jin, a professor at the National University of Singapore, said, “The potential damage to reputation is far greater than short-term financial losses,”
*** Images Credit: Express.co.uk***
