AirAsia bans Samsung Note 7 on all its flights

Samsung discontinued Galaxy Note 7 last week after unexplained overheating problems and fire incidents

Malaysian budget airline group AirAsia has prohibited carrying Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones onboard any of its flights, including those operated by AirAsia India, due to safety concerns.

The ban is effective from mid-night on Sunday, AirAsia said.

The decision of not allowing the latest Galaxy Note series smartphone comes after a recent ban by US Department of Transport on the device and reports of replacement units catching fire, AirAsia said in a release today.

AirAsia Guests are not permitted to carry the Galaxy Note 7 - including recalled and replacement devices - on their person, in cabin bags, in check-in baggage or as cargo, the release said.

Any guests found with the device will be denied boarding, it said.

The prohibition applies to all flights operated by AirAsia Group, comprising AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Indonesia, AirAsia Philippines, AirAsia India, Malaysia AirAsia X , Thai AirAsia X and Indonesia AirAsia X , the airline said in the release.

South Korean electronics major Samsung had released the new the Galaxy Note 7 in July but discontinued the product last week after unexplained overheating problems and fire incidents.