In a statement posted Sept. 10 on its website, Samsung asked users around the world to “immediately” return their existing Galaxy Note 7 and get a replacement.

“We are asking users to power down their Galaxy Note 7s and exchange them as soon as possible,” said Koh Dong-jin, Samsung‘s mobile president. “We are expediting replacement devices so that they can be provided through the exchange program as conveniently as possible.”

Earlier this month, the world‘s largest smartphone manufacturer announced an unprecedented global recall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7s worldwide just two weeks after the phone was launched after several of the phablets caught fire while charging.

That move came after Samsung’s investigation into reports of fires found that rechargeable lithium batteries manufactured by one of its suppliers were at fault.

The company promised to offer new replacements to all buyers at home and abroad.

Several airlines around the world, including Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Cebu Pacific, asked travelers not switch on the jumbo smartphone or put it in checked baggage, with some carriers banning the phone on flights.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)