If you own a Galaxy Note 7, then it’s probably in your best interests to take advantage of Samsung’s exchange or refund policy related to the device, regardless of how much you may love the hardware.
What originally started out as one or two incidents has now developed into a worldwide recall with yet another Note 7 spontaneously exploding into flames whilst on charge, and even the FAA considering an airline ban of the device. With no real way to actually tell if you have a safe or malfunctioning Galaxy Note 7 unit it’s probably best to err on the side of caution and take advantage of Samsung’s attempts at rectification while you can.
The latest Galaxy Note 7 incident to hit the headlines has occurred in Horry County, South Carolina, where it’s thought that a plugged in Galaxy Note 7 has exploded in Wesley Hartzog’s garage. After putting the device on charge, the home owner left the property to pick up his daughters, returning home to find his house engulfed in flames and emergency services and firefights already on the scene trying to tackle the blaze.
This isn’t a case of a device exploding in a small area, but rather a fire allegedly caused by a defective Note 7 that has left a family home condemned:
Everybody was here and they were actually at the front door about ready to go inside and make the initial fire attack. Somebody told me that there was a fire in the garage. You know, you just don’t really ever think it will happen to you. They asked me if I had anything plugged in in the garage. My cell phone, which was the new Note 7, was plugged in in the garage. I also had an air compressor plugged into the same outlet, but the compressor wasn’t on.
Wesley Hartzog’s garage all burnt up after a Galaxy Note 7 exploded while charging.
In another completely separate case, owner Nathan Dornacher had his Jeep Grand Cherokee totaled after a Galaxy Note 7, which was connected in the vehicle and on charge, exploded, causing the Jeep to ignite into flames. Nathan Dornacher and his wife went to a sale over the Lobor Day weekend.
Exploding Galaxy Note 7 puts Jeep on fire.
It was just over a day ago when a similar explosion caused over $1,300 worth of damage to a hotel room in Australia – a first being reported in the Land Down Under.
The incident also comes at a time when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a total ban of Galaxy Note 7 devices on US airlines. With all 2.5 million devices sold to date eligible for a recall by Samsung, it seems that the FAA believes it simply can’t take the risk of having a defective device onboard an airplane. If Samsung had actually invoked the recall via the Consumer Product Safety Commission, then the ban on all US airlines would have been instant, but although that didn’t happen it seems the FAA is still considering imposing a ban in the name of caution.
For information on how to claim a refund or replacement for your Galaxy Note 7, check here: Galaxy Note 7 Recall: How To Return It To Verizon, T-Mobile, Samsung, Others.
Update x1: Australia airlines Qantas, Jeststar and Virgin Australia have now banned the devices from flying in their planes.
(Sources: Fox10Pheonix, WMBFNews)
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