Kualanamu Airport Imposes Strict Screening for Galaxy Note 7
14 September 2016 19:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deli Serdang's Kualanamu International Airport management has imposed a stringent monitoring policy for passengers who are using and/or carrying Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 handset, which has been known to catch fire when it is plugged to a power outlet.
The decision to impose strict monitoring policy is taken after the Ministry of Transport's Directorate General for Air Transport issued an advisory on September 13, 2016, which imposes limitation on the use and carriage of the recalled handset aboard an aircraft.
Kualanamu Airport's Head of Public Relations, Wisnu Budi, said that aviation security officers that are stationed on departure gates 1 and 2 have been ordered to thoroughly screen all passengers that are going through the airport. "All passengers will be asked to remove their laptops, and personal communications devices with lithium batteries from their bags and place on trays to be x-rayed prior to departure," said Wisnu to Tempo on Wednesday, September 14, 2016.
"Those who have been found in possession of the handset in question will not be allowed to board their aircrafts because the handset has been categorised as 'dangerous goods'," continued Wisnu.
The Ministry of Transport has followed transport authorities from across the globe and issued an advisory relating to the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handset - whose battery has been known to explode in scores of recorded cases across several countries.
The Director for Air Transport, Suprasetyo, has instructed all Indonesian airline operators to completely switch off and refrain from charging the handset in question aboard an aircraft. "This includes charging the batteries using portable chargers, as well as through USB outlets available aboard some aircrafts," Suprasetyo said on Wednesday, September 14, 2016.
As a result of the advisory, several airliners - including Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, and Lion Air - has banned passengers from charging their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handsets aboard aircrafts and during flights.
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