Europe's air safety regulator Friday followed the lead of its U.S. counterpart urging passengers not to use or charge Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in flight.
The Cologne, Germany-based European Aviation Safety Agency said passengers should not pack the smartphone in checked bags, also echoing the FAA guidance. A spokesman said a so called Safety Information Bulletin about the restrictions was being sent to European national aviation authorities that enforce safety rules.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration late Thursday said the Galaxy Note 7 phones should not be used on board planes because of the a potential airborne fire hazard.
Air safety regulators have long had concerns about transporting some lithium batteries on planes, because of the potential fire hazard. Late last year hoverboards, the gliding vehicles which were a popular Christmas present, raised similar safety concerns because of the risk their batteries could catch fire.
The safety recommendation for the Samsung device comes only days after the world's largest smartphone maker by shipments announced a recall for millions of the Galaxy Note 7 devices because of batteries exploding and catching fire.
Singapore Airlines Ltd. on Friday said it would ban the onboard use of the Samsung smartphone. Australian flag carrier Qantas Airways Ltd. and its budget unit Jetstar, as well as competitor Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd., were already telling passengers not to use or charge the devices.