NEW DELHI: Aviation regulator DGCA has eased restrictions on use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on flights, allowing passengers to use the ones purchased after September 15 which have green battery icon.
The ban remains on Galaxy Note 7 devices purchased before September 15 which have seen battery overheating and have a white battery charge indication on the screen.
On September 9, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) prohibited their use on board flights as also carrying them in checked-in baggage following a series of incidents of the smart phone's battery exploding in various countries.
The restrictions do not apply to "Samsung Galaxy Note 7 purchased after September 15, 2016, which have green battery charge indication on their screen", DGCA said in a notice.
In a statement, Samsung said customers can identify the new Galaxy Note 7 with green battery icon. Devices displaying this visual icon are safe to charge and use during the flight, it added.
"It is important to note that Samsung has not sold a single unit of Galaxy Note 7 in India so far. The 'green battery icon' will apply to all Galaxy Note 7 units that will be sold to customers in India when it is launched," the company said.
The public notice, issued on Thursday, comes days after Samsung executives met DGCA officials. The meeting happened against the backdrop of a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 catching fire on an IndiGo flight from Singapore during landing at Chennai airport on September 23.
According to the latest DGCA notice, Samsung has recalled Galaxy Note 7 sold before September 15 that have white battery charge indication on their screens.
Meanwhile, the investigation is progressing on the fire incident involving Galaxy Note 2.
Sources said initial findings indicate that the incident happened due to "some external damage" to that particular Galaxy Note 2.
Earlier this month, Samsung recalled its Galaxy Note 7 devices after finding some of their batteries exploding or catching fire.