‘Bomb’ almost smuggled onto passenger plane was a commercial grade firework
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REVEALED: The ‘bomb’ nearly smuggled onto a passenger plane in Pennsylvania was a commercial-grade FIREWORK sewn into the lining of the suitcase, and the man arrested, 40, has a long rap sheet that includes bullying, disorderly conduct and fighting
- Mark Muffley, 40, of Lansford, Pennsylvania, was arrested Monday for allegedly bringing a ‘bomb’ onto an Allegiant flight.
- The circular device contained a powder that is used in ‘commercial grade fireworks’ and had multiple fuses and was found in the lining of the bag.
- Muffley has a series of run-ins with the law, dating back to 2017, for harassment, disorderly conduct and fighting.
The ‘bomb’ that was nearly smuggled onto an Allegiant flight was made from commercial-grade fireworks that was allegedly sewn into the lining of a suitcase by a man with a long rap sheet.
Mark Muffley, 40, of Lansford, Pennsylvania, was arrested at his Abbott Street home Monday after allegedly attempting to plant a bomb on a passenger flight at Lehigh Valley International Airport. Muffley faces charges of possession of an explosive at an airport and possession/attempt to plant an explosive on a plane.
The 40-year-old man has a lengthy rap sheet dating back to 2017, which includes harassment, disorderly conduct and fighting, according to the Pennsylvania. Magisterial District Court.
Muffley’s bag set off an alarm before it was loaded onto the plane, and the TSA found a “circular compound” hidden in the lining of the luggage, the FBI said. The device, which was circular in shape, was found inside the lining of the bag. It was about three inches in diameter.
It is suspected that the ‘powder is a mixture of lightning powder and the dark granules used in commercial grade fireworks’ that was wrapped in waxed paper and plastic, the complaint read.
Mark Muffley, 40, of Lansford, Pennsylvania, (pictured on his license) was detained by the FBI after attempting to smuggle an explosive device onto an Allegiant flight Monday.
Muffley was about to catch an Allegiant flight from eastern Pennsylvania to Sanford, Florida. He has been charged with possession of an explosive at an airport and possession, attempt to plant or having placed an explosive on an aircraft.
There were also two fuses attached, one of which appeared to be part of the original manufacture and is used to quickly ignite explosives.
“Attached to the circular compound were a ‘fast fuse’ and a ‘hobby fuse,'” the complaint stated. A quick match is designed to ignite explosives quickly. It appeared to be part of the original manufacturing of the compound. A “hobby fuse” is known to be a normal fuse that burns more slowly than a fast fuse. The “hobby fuse” seemed to have been added after manufacture.
The other fuse was added later and burns more slowly than a fast fuse, authorities said, adding that the powders could be ignited by heat and friction, posing a “significant risk” to the plane and passengers.
Muffley’s bag set off an alarm before it was loaded onto the plane, and the TSA found a “circular compound” hidden in the lining of the luggage, the FBI said. The FBI said the device, which was circular in shape, was found inside the lining of the bag. It was about three inches in diameter and made of fireworks material.
Authorities say the device was concealed inside a piece of checked luggage and contained multiple fuses.
Investigators also found in the suitcase a butane canister, a cigarette lighter, a pipe with white powdery residue, a cordless drill and two GFCI plugs taped together, according to the complaint.
The suspicious package was discovered shortly after 11 a.m. Monday and the west side of the airport’s main terminal was closed “out of precaution” around 11:15 a.m., according to wfmz.
The ‘bomb’ was removed from the airport. After its removal, the main terminal was reopened around 2 p.m.
Once found, Muffley was called to the security desk around 11:40 a.m., but was later seen leaving the airport on security footage at 11:45 a.m.
Muffley is due in court on Thursday.
He was arrested at his home on Abbott Street (pictured) on Monday.