FAA warns passengers not to use explosive Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones while flying

(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 users might need to find a new travel companion. On Thursday — a week after Samsung recalled the smartphone because of problems with its battery exploding or catching fire — the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning against passengers turning on, charging, or stowing their Galaxy Note 7 in checked bags. Though the FAA has previously warned about the dangers of fires caused by cellphone batteries aboard planes, The Associated Press reported that it's "extremely unusual for the FAA to warn passengers about a specific product."

Last Friday, Samsung stopped the sale of the Galaxy Note 7 in 10 countries after numerous reports of the phone catching fire after being plugged in to charge. Samsung, which has shipped 2.5 million units of the smartphone since it came out in August, identified the problem as a faulty rechargeable lithium battery in a "small number" of the devices.