Mark Muffley: FBI arrests man who tried to load active explosive device onto Allegiant flight
LEHIGH VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA: A Pennsylvania man, 40, has been taken into FBI custody after an explosive device was found in his bag that was being loaded onto an Allegiant flight. The incident took place at Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley International Airport on Monday, February 27, as per a criminal complaint.
The device was concealed inside a checked piece of luggage belonging to the man, Mark Muffley, of Lansford, Pennsylvania, according to officials. He was going to take an Allegiant flight from eastern Pennsylvania to Sanford, Florida.
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What was found in Mark Muffley's bag?
The explosive device recovered from his bag's lining was a circular compound, about 3 inches in diameter, with two fuses and powder concealed in wax paper and plastic wrap, ABC News reported. The "powder is suspected to be a mixture of flash powder and the dark granulars that are used in commercial grade fireworks," the complaint stated. "The black powder and flash powder are susceptible to ignite from heat and friction and posed a significant risk to the aircraft and passengers."
The bag had "a can of butane, a lighter, a pipe with white powder residue, a wireless drill with cordless batteries, and two GFCI outlets taped together with black tape," the complaint added. The device was found when the suitcase triggered an alarm during "routine screening". It had already entered the baggage screening unit, the Transportation Security Administration said. A TSA officer inspecting the baggage "located an item inside the suitcase that appeared to be suspicious and was believed to possibly be a live explosive device," according to the agency.
What are the charges against Mark Muffley?
The package was found shortly after 11 am, an airport spokesperson said, following which authorities shut down the west side of the airport's main terminal. The criminal complaint said Muffey was paged over the airport’s public system to come to the security desk, and he was seen leaving the airport five minutes later, according to security cameras. The closed portion of the terminal was reopened shortly before 2 pm after the package was removed from the airport.
It was determined by FBI and local law enforcement bomb technicians responding to the scene that the device "was indeed a live explosive device," TSA said. Meanwhile, the FBI confirmed that Muffley was arrested at his home Monday night, February 27. He has been charged with possession of an explosive in an airport and possessing, or attempting to place, or attempting to have placed an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft. The suspect is due in court on Thursday afternoon, March 2.