A Pennsylvania man was arrested Monday night after TSA agents found an explosive device in checked luggage.
Mark Muffley, 40, was supposed to take an Allegiant flight from Pennsylvania to Florida on Monday.
The TSA found a device with two fuses and a “circular compound” containing powder hidden in the lining of her checked bag.
The west side of the Pennsylvania airport’s main terminal was closed Monday morning after agents found a suspicious package.
Muffley was paged on the airport’s public intercom to report to the security desk but fled the airport.
FBI and bomb technicians who responded to the scene confirmed the object was “a truly live explosive device.”
Muffley was charged with “possessing and possessing an explosive at an airport, or attempting to place or attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.” According to ABC News.
ABC News reported:
An explosive device was found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley International Airport on Monday, according to a criminal complaint.
The passenger, identified as Mark Muffley of Lansford, Pennsylvania, is now in FBI custody, officials said.
According to the criminal complaint, the device hidden in the lining of the bag was a circular compound, about 3 inches in diameter, with two fuses and powder hidden in wax paper and plastic wrap.
“The powder is suspected to be a mixture of flash powder and dark granular used in commercial grade fireworks,” the complaint said. “Black powder and flash powder ignite from heat and friction and pose a significant hazard to aircraft and passengers.”
The bag contained a “butane can, lighter, pipe with white powder residue, cordless drill with cordless batteries and two GFCI outlets taped with black tape,” the complaint said.
The device was discovered during “routine screening” when an alarm was triggered when the suitcase entered a baggage screening unit, the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement. While inspecting the luggage, a TSA officer “detected an item inside the suitcase that was suspicious and believed to be possibly a live explosive device,” the agency said.
