On Monday, FBI officials in Pennsylvania detained a man who smuggled an explosive device into the airport.
The 40-year-old Mark Muffley is accused of packing the device in his checked luggage for a trip to Orlando.
According to agents, he escaped from the airport after hearing his name shouted and was apprehended in his residence.
The TSA claims it discovered the gadget during a regular inspection.
Mr. Muffley, according to authorities, boarded Flight 201 on Allegiant Air at Lehigh Valley International Airport, located 65 miles (105 km) north of Philadelphia, on Monday morning.
TSA agents found the suspicious object an hour later and contacted FBI agents and a bomb technician to investigate.
TRI World Now also covered the news on Twitter:
US federal agents arrest man after security finds explosive in checked luggage for Florida-bound flight from Pennsylvania airport pic.twitter.com/arAc9apDzL
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) March 1, 2023
According to FBI bomb technician Jared Witmier’s testimony in the court documents, fuses, and explosive powder were discovered in a device measuring 3 inches (7.5cm) and buried in the suspect’s rolling luggage lining.
According To The Criminal Complaint
Two types of fuses were present: a quick fuse included during production and a hobby fuse that looked to have been added later.
The “powder is suspected to be a blend of flash powder and the dark granules utilized in commercial grade fireworks,” the FBI court statement states.
The black powder and flash powder severely threatened the safety of the plane and its passengers because they could easily catch fire from heat or friction.
There was also a wireless drill with cordless batteries, two circuit breakers taped together, and a can of butane in the bag.
According to the court documents, Mr. Muffley was seen departing the airport just five minutes after being paged over the loudspeaker. Late on Monday, he was tracked down at his residence in Lansford, Pennsylvania.
He is accused of having an explosive device in an airport and trying to bring an explosive or incendiary device onto a plane.
We will keep you informed if we learn anything. Until then, you can still follow us on Twitter for the most recent news.
