Airlines can now stop warning passengers about Samsung Galaxy Note7 before flights

The FAA says everyone is aware of Samsung's infamous smartphone.
 By 
Manish Singh
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Getting tired of hearing those pre-flight warnings about the Samsung Galaxy Note7 ban? Good news: they may be over soon.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has informed airlines that they no longer need to notify passengers about the Galaxy Note7 before boarding, although the devices will remain banned on board. It remains to be seen how long airlines will take to enact the change.

The change of heart comes as the Federal Aviation Administration takes into account the heightened public awareness of the ban on Samsung’s unfortunate smartphone, it said Tuesday, without clarifying when -- or if -- the ban itself would be lifted.

"The devices are still prohibited on both passenger and air cargo aircraft, but the DOT has lifted the requirement that the airlines make the specific pre-boarding notification," the FAA said.

The DoT had issued an emergency restriction on the Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone, asking passengers not to use or carry the smartphone on flights in the United States last October. Airlines across the globe, including in countries such as India where the Galaxy Note7 was never launched, followed suit.

The South Korean technology conglomerate has put a lot of effort into ensuring that all the Galaxy Note7 models are returned. In a statement, the company said 96 percent of all the Galaxy Note7 smartphones have been recovered from customers.

"Together with our wireless carriers, we have taken aggressive action to limit the remaining phones’ ability to work as mobile devices, further enhancing participation in the recall," Samsung said.

Topics Samsung

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Manish Singh

Manish Singh was a Mashable's senior correspondent in India. He has previously freelanced with CNET, NDTV Gadgets, BGR India, and MediaNama.

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