Explosive Found at Pennsylvania Airport, Suspect Arrested: FBI

Airport surveillance camera image shows alleged suspect Marc Muffley at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pa., on Feb. 27, 2023. FBI via AP

A man has been arrested after an explosive was found in a checked bag at Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley International Airport, the FBI said Wednesday.

Mark Muffley, 40, from Lansford, Pennsylvania, was arrested on Monday and charged with attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft after his suitcase triggered an alarm during the routine screening.

Muffley was set to take an Allegiant flight heading to Florida’s Orlando Sanford International Airport.

Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said that a TSA officer “physically inspected the contents of the luggage” after the alarm went off.

The officer “located an item inside the suitcase that appeared to be suspicious and was believed to possibly be a live explosive device,” she said.

“FBI and local law enforcement bomb technicians determined that the item was indeed a live explosive device. A suspect was arrested.”

The airport said it briefly closed a part of its main terminal on Monday as authorities examined the suspicious item.

According to the FBI’s formal complaint, officials found a “circular compound” about three inches in diameter hidden in the lining of the baggage, with two fuses and powder concealed in wax-like paper and plastic wrap.

The “powder is suspected to be a mixture of flash powder and the dark granulars that are used in commercial grade fireworks,” said an FBI bomb technician who X-rayed the compound.

L: Drivers license photo of Marc Muffley released in an FBI affidavit. R: Airport surveillance camera image released in an FBI affidavit shows alleged suspect Marc Muffley at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allenstown, Pa. on Feb. 27, 2023. FBI via AP

Attached to it was a “quick fuse” similar to a candle wick—apparently part of the original manufacture of the compound—as well as a “hobby fuse” that burns more slowly and appeared to have been added after the manufacture, authorities said.

“The black powder and flash powder are susceptible to ignite from heat and friction and posed a significant risk to the aircraft and passengers,” authorities concluded, per the complaint.

They said the luggage also contained “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." GFCI outlets are a type of circuit breaker.

After the alarm went off, authorities paged Muffley over the airport’s public address system to report to security at the airport, the FBI said, adding that minutes later, Muffley was seen leaving the airport.

Later Monday evening, Muffley was arrested at his home and put into FBI custody.

Muffley was due in court for a probable cause hearing and detention hearing on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Allentown. He is due to attend via videoconference.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.