Samsung Galaxy Note 7 users are being urged to immediately stop using the handsets and hand them back as soon as possible.

In a detrimental move for the company, the tech giant has been forced to recall the smartphones worldwide after several dozen of them caught fire. According to reports from Reuters, there are 2.5 million handsets worldwide that need to be recalled. The recall comes following recommendations from the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission who urged owners of the phones to turn them off and leave them off. The commission also stated that fires “have occurred while charging and during normal use.” The company released a statement apologizing to customers. “We again express our sincere apologies to our customers who value our products,” the South Korean company said. It is believed that Samsung will offer an exchange for customers who have purchased a Galaxy Note 7 and will start to send out new units from 19 August. The Federal Aviation Administration have also requested that passengers do not use or charge the phone during flights. “In light of recent incidents and concerns raised by Samsung about its Galaxy Note 7 devices, the Federal Aviation Administration strongly advises passengers not to turn on or charge these devices on board aircraft and not to stow them in any checked baggage,” it said. Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Virgin Australia have also banned the phone. A businessman whose device exploded wrote of the event on Reddit. “My brand new Note 7 exploded this morning while I was still asleep, it was plugged in and charging. "Phone completely fried, I can't eject the sim tray to retrieved my sim or the SD card. I was using original charger and cable if you are wondering. Charred the hotel room bed sheet and the carpet when I whacked it down to the floor, burnt one of my finger while doing that too.” “Please do not use the phone anymore, it is dangerous and not worth the risk,” he writes. Damages to the room amounted to $1,800 AUD. Image via Twitter.