Consumers Urged To Power Down, Stop Using Samsung Galaxy Note 7

WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Friday said anyone with a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 should power down their device and quit using it.

First came the pictures of charred Galaxy Note 7s on social media. Afterward, Samsung allowed customers to exchange their phones over battery concerns.

Now, the CPSC has taken an extraordinary step further, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.

"Urging all consumers who own a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to power them down, and stop charging or using the device," said spokeswoman Patty Davis.

Davis said the commission and Samsung are working together to put out a full recall.

Meanwhile, aviation safety officials took the extraordinary step of urging airline passengers not to turn on or charge a new-model Samsung smartphone during flights following numerous reports of the devices catching fire.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued the warning Thursday night, citing "recent incidents and concerns raised by Samsung about its Galaxy Note 7 devices.''

"The Federal Aviation Administration strongly advises passengers not to turn on or charge these devices on board aircraft and not to stow them in any checked baggage," the statement said.

It is extremely unusual for the FAA to warn passengers about a specific product.

Samsung recently stopped selling the phones and recalled more than 2 million after confirming 35 cases of its batteries catching fire.

In one case, a family in St. Petersburg, Florida reported a Galaxy 7 phone left charging in their Jeep caught fire, destroying the vehicle.

Most explosions occurred while the battery was being charged. The phone was released Aug. 19.

The South Korean company said South Korean consumers will be able to swap their Note 7 phones for a new one starting later this month. The recall schedules vary across countries.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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