A Pennsylvania man is facing federal criminal charges after authorities found an explosive device hidden in the lining of a checked suitcase. The man was paged but had left the airport; he was located and arrested five days later.
Men allegedly checks suitcase with explosive device on flight
A Pennsylvania man is accused of checking in a suitcase that had an explosive device hidden in its lining onto a flight heading for Florida.
A number of items and materials were discovered in the checked luggage by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents working at the Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania, CNN reported.
An alert was triggered during a routine security screening. When the baggage was examined, TSA agents discovered a “circular compound” hidden inside the lining that was roughly 3 inches in diameter. It was incased in a wax paper and clear plastic wrap, NPR reported.
A bomb technician from the FBI x-rayed the compound and found it contained a granular powder consistent with a “commercial grade firework” and “suspected to be a mixture of flash powder and the dark granulars that are used in commercial grade fireworks.”
The device had a “quick fuse” attached that was similar to a candlewick, as part of an original part of the compound, as well as a “hobby fuse” that appeared to be attached after manufacture and designed to burn more slowly, authorities said.
Authorities concluded that both the black powder in flash powder “are susceptible to ignite from heat and friction and posed a significant risk to the aircraft and passengers,” the criminal complaint read.
In addition, the baggage also contained “a can of butane, a lighter, a pipe with white powder residue, a wireless drill with cordless batteries, and two GFCI outlets (a type of circuit breaker) taped together with black tape,” authorities said.
Man fled airport after checking in bag
Upon the discovery of the explosive device, the section of the airport where the checked bag was discovered was evacuated, People reported.
Once authorities discovered the explosive device in the suitcase, they paged the man who checked in and asked him to come to the security desk.
However, five minutes later surveillance cameras captured the man leaving the airport.
Suspect identified and arrested, attorney claims it was only a firework
The incident occurred on Wednesday, and the FBI began working on identifying the suspect. Eventually, the FBI contacted Carbon County Chief of Detectives Jack Soberick, who used to be the Chief of Police at the Lansford Police Department. He recognized the alleged suspect, who was identified as Marc Muffley, 40, of Lansford, Pennsylvania. Chief Soberick said that he knew Muffley personally and confirmed his address.
FBI Special Agent Eddie Garcia asked a judge to grant him an arrest warrant so Muffley could be taken into custody.
On Monday night, FBI agents arrested Muffley at his home without incident. He was 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.
According to agent Garcia, Muffley confirmed he was aware he had the explosive in his bag along with lithium batteries, butane, and a small torch lighter, and he knew they were all prohibited.
However, a public defender representing Muffley argued the device was simply “a firework in a bag.” The attorney also stated that it was a commercial product and the only addition was a wick designed to burn slowly. He said there was no way for it to explode unless someone took a lighter to one of the wicks, ABC News reported.
