(Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles national carrier, Air Seychelles, is banning all Galaxy Note7 smartphones onboard all its aircraft effective immediately, the company announced in a press statement on Monday.

"Air Seychelles is enforcing a total ban on these devices on board its aircraft, both Twin Otter and Airbus fleet, as some phones have been installed with faulty lithium batteries, which present a risk of combustion and fire," the airline said. 

Last week, Samsung announced an expanded voluntary recall on all original and replacement Galaxy Note7 devices saying, “Since the affected devices can overheat and pose a safety risk, we are asking consumers with a Galaxy Note7 to power it down and contact the carrier or retail outlet where they purchased their device.”

In line with the recall, the US Department of Transportation in coordination with the Federal Aviation and Administration, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration, issued an emergency order which became effective on October 15.

Air Seychelles says that guests may not carry these smartphones in their checked-in baggage, in cabin baggage, or on their person.

In the case of guests breaching the imposed ban, the national airline of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, will be using the guidelines from the US emergency order.

The order states that: “If passengers attempt to travel by air with their Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices, they will be denied boarding unless and until the passenger removes the phone from their person as well as carry-on and checked luggage.”

It adds further that if a passenger is identified in possession of the said smartphone while the aircraft is in flight, “the crew member must instruct the passenger to power off the device, not to use or charge the device, and to keep it on their person and not in the overhead compartment, seat back pocket, or in any carry-on baggage, for the duration of the flight.”

Air Seychelles said it apologises for any inconvenience this may cause to guests, however, safety and security of its passengers and staff are of the utmost importance.