Three weeks after banning the use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in flights, the DGCA has partially lifted the restrictions allowing fliers to use the smartphone that has a “green battery charge indication”.
The existing restrictions do not apply to Samsung Galaxy Note 7 purchased after September 15, 2016, which have a green battery charge indication on their screen, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a notice issued on Thursday.
The ban on the smartphone units manufactured before September 15 with a white battery charge indication on the screen, will however, continue. On September 9, the DGCA had asked fliers not to use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones while on air amid fears that its battery could explode or catch fire, putting their safety in jeopardy. The fliers were also not allowed to keep the phones in check-in baggage and were told to carry them in their hand baggage in switched-off mode, the earlier notice had said.
“It is important to note that Samsung has not sold a single unit of Galaxy Note 7 in India so far. The ‘green battery icon’ will apply to all Galaxy Note 7 units that will be sold to customers in India when it is launched,” the company said.
The public notice came days after Samsung executives met DGCA officials after a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 caught fire on an IndiGo flight from Singapore during landing at Chennai airport on September 23.
Published 30 September 2016, 19:10 IST