A 40-year-old man has been placed into FBI custody after he tried to bring an explosive device onto an aircraft.
While going through a routine screening check at a Pennsylvania airport on Monday, a piece of checked luggage belonging to a man named Mark Muffley triggered an alarm before it was loaded onto the plane.
Upon searching the luggage, TSA found a “circular compound” hidden in its lining. The concealed item was “approximately three inches in diameter, wrapped in a wax-like paper and clear plastic wrap.”
The immediate area surrounding where the device was uncovered was immediately evacuated “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a statement from TSA.
The FBI was called onto the scene and they found that the device was filled with flash powder and a granular type of powder “consistent with a commercial-grade firework.”
According to the criminal complaint, “[t]he black powder and flash powder are susceptible to ignite from heat and friction and posed a significant risk to the aircraft and passengers.”
The explosive had a “hobby fuse” on it, which burns slower than a “quick fuse.”
Inside the luggage, the authorities also found a can of butane, a lighter, a pipe with white powder residue, a wireless drill with cordless batteries, and two ground fault circuit interrupter outlets which were taped together.
Muffley, of Lansford, Pennsylvania, was trying to board a flight at Lehigh Valley International Airport for an Allegiant flight to Orlando, Florida when he was paged over the airport’s public system to go to the security desk.
Shortly after broadcasting this message, Muffley was seen on security footage exiting the airport hurriedly.
The explosive device was removed from the scene and the terminal reopened and was fully functioning again by 2 pm.
Muffley was arrested at his home on Monday night and now faces charges of possession of an explosive at an airport and possessing/attempting to place an explosive on an aircraft.
He will appear in court for a probable cause and detention hearing on Thursday.