Replacement Samsung Note 7 ignites on US flight after smartphone recall

Company has replaced 60% of handsets in South Korea and US after reports of devices catching fire, but new incident may indicate a much bigger problem

Samsung's disastrous Note 7 smartphone episode took a new turn today when one of its new replacement handsets started to smolder during a flight in the US on Wednesday.

The South Korean company recalled 2.5m smartphones during September after several reports of the devices catching fire during or after charging, offering replacement units to customers. Last week claimed it had replaced 60% of handsets in South Korea and in the US.