The US Department of Transportation has issued an emergency order banning all airline passengers in the country from carrying Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices.
The ban was issued in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
It takes effect at noon on 15 October, US Eastern time (2am, 16 October AEST) and extends to checked baggage and air cargo as well.
The DoT said if anyone tried to take a Note7 onboard a flight, it may be confiscated and the owner may face fines. Samsung said it would text all Note7 users to advise them of the ban.
{loadposition sam08}Those who attempted to evade the ban by packing the device in checked luggage could be subject to criminal prosecution, in addition to fines.
Anyone who was travelling with the phone was advised to contact Samsung or their carrier immediately to find out how to return it and obtain a replacement.
As it turns out, using it underwater is the only safe way to use a Galaxy Note 7. pic.twitter.com/CXW81TvAaI
— Paul Thurrott (@thurrott) 2 September 2016
Airline staff were told that if they saw any passenger using a Note7 before boarding, they must prevent that person getting on board until the individual had got rid of the device.
Any crew who noticed a passenger having a Note7 while in flight was told to "instruct the passenger to power off the device, not use or charge the device while aboard the aircraft, protect the device from accidental activation, including disabling any features that may turn on the device, such as alarm clocks, and keep the device on their person and not in the overhead compartment, seat back pocket, nor in any carry-on baggage, for the duration of the flight".
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a media release: "We recognise that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority.
“We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident inflight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk.”
The department said there had been numerous incidents in which both the recalled and replacement Note7 devices had caught fire.
It said both Samsung and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission "acknowledged this imminent safety hazard with the company’s 15 September and 13 October recalls. Additionally, on 11 October, Samsung suspended the manufacture and sale of the device".
CPSC chairman Elliot Kaye said: "The fire hazard with the original Note7 and with the replacement Note7 is simply too great for anyone to risk it and not respond to this official recall.
“I would like to remind consumers once again to take advantage of the remedies offered, including a full refund. It’s the right thing to do and the safest thing to do."