Federal Safety Regulators Investigating Report Of Replacement Samsung Note 7 Catching Fire

Earlier today, a Southwest Airlines flight from Louisville to Baltimore had to be evacuated after smoke and fire began to spew out of a Samsung Galaxy Note 7, one that was replaced and should not have had an overheating battery. Now, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has confirmed that it is looking into this incident.

In a statement emailed to Consumerist, CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye announced that the CPSC is “moving expeditiously to investigate” this case, in which no one was hurt and everyone was able to get off the plane.

“Agency staff has already reached out to the FAA and Samsung to gather the facts about the incident,” says Kaye. “Agency staff will also reach out to the consumer who experienced a serious incident with his phone.”

The CPSC is quick to point out that while the Samsung exchange program was intended to remedy the battery situation, anyone with a recalled Note 7 also has the option of getting a refund, which can then be used to get a different phone.

UPDATE: In a separate statement to our colleagues at Consumer Reports, a rep for Samsung says, “Until we are able to retrieve the device, we cannot confirm that this incident involves the new Note7. We are working with the authorities and Southwest now to recover the device and confirm the cause. Once we have examined the device we will have more information to share.”

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