Explosives found in Florida flight bag, man detained

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

Mark Muffley, 40, is charged with possession of an explosive at an airport and with possession or attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft, according to the criminal complaint.

Prosecutors say the material 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 being warned during a search, the package was examined and the lining was found to contain a “round joint” about three inches in diameter, encased in wax-like paper and a clear plastic film.

An FBI explosives specialist X-rayed the compound and concluded that it contained a granular powder suitable for “commercial-grade fireworks” and “presumably a mixture of flash powder and dark granules used in commercial-grade fireworks.”

Attached to it was a “quick-acting fuse” similar to a candle wick – apparently part of the compound’s original production – as well as an “amateur fuse” that burns more slowly and appears to have been added after manufacture, authorities said.

Authorities said they have concluded that both black powder and flash powder are “subject to ignition by heat and friction and pose a significant risk to aircraft and passengers,” the criminal complaint says.

The luggage also contained “a can of butane, a lighter, a pipe with residual white powder, a cordless drill with rechargeable batteries and two GFCI outlets sealed with black tape,” authorities said.

GFCI sockets are a type of circuit breaker.

Authorities said Muffley was called over the airport’s public address system and was seen leaving 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 Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Allentown, with Muffley on videoconference. On Wednesday, a message was left for Muffley federal public defender Timothy Wright.

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