Explosives found in bag at Pennsylvania airport, man arrested

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man faces federal charges after he checked in a suitcase with an explosive device hidden in the lining on a flight to Florida, authorities said Wednesday.

According to a criminal complaint, Marc Muffley, 40, is charged with possession of an explosive at an airport and possession or attempted placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an airplane.

Prosecutors allege the footage was found in a suitcase that Muffley checked in Monday at Lehigh Valley International Airport for Allegiant Air Flight 201, bound for Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida.

After a warning during security, the bag was examined and found in the lining was a “circular bond” about three inches in diameter, encased in wax-like paper and clear plastic wrap.

An FBI bomb technician X-rayed the compound and concluded that it contained a granular powder consistent with “commercial fireworks” and is “presumed to be a mixture of flash powder and the dark granules used in commercial fireworks.” “.

Attached to it was a “fast fuse” similar to a candle wick – apparently part of the original making of the connection – as well as a “hobby fuse” that burns slower and appears to have been added after manufacture, authorities said.

Authorities said they had concluded that both the black powder and flash powder “can be ignited by heat and friction and pose a significant risk to the aircraft and passengers,” the criminal complaint said.

The luggage also contained “a can of butane, a lighter, a whistle with white powder residue, a cordless drill with cordless batteries, and two GFCI sockets taped together with black tape,” authorities said.

GFCI sockets are a type of circuit breaker.

Authorities said Muffley was called over the airport public address system and was seen exiting the airport shortly after. He was traced to an address in Lansford, where he was arrested by the FBI late Monday night.

Officials said he remains in custody pending a probable cause hearing and detention hearing in Allentown at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, which Muffley will attend via videoconference. A message was left for Muffley’s public defender Timothy Wright on Wednesday.