A Pennsylvania man has admitted to packing explosive materials, fuses and a lighter in a suitcase he checked in for an Allegiant flight to Florida and ‘feared being arrested’ fleeing the scene of the crime.
Fresh court documents revealed that the would-be passenger plane ‘bomber,’ Marc Muffley, 40, called his girlfriend for a ride from Lehigh Valley International Airport and soon switched his phone number.
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said in a memo seeking that he be held without bail on the charges. A detention hearing scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
It comes as surveillance footage revealed the tense sting operation to arrest Muffley who fled to his home in Lansford after the ‘explosive device’ was found stitched into the lining of his suitcase.
Pennsylvania man, Marc Muffley, 40, has admitted to packing explosive materials, fuses and a lighter in a suitcase he checked in for an Allegiant flight to Florida and ‘feared being arrested’ fleeing the scene of the crime
Muffley was about to take an Allegiant flight from eastern Pennsylvania to Sanford, Florida. He’s been charged with with possession of an explosive in an airport and possessing, attempting to place, or to have placed an explosive on an aircraft
‘The baggage also contained a can of butane, a lighter, a pipe with white powder residue suspected to be methamphetamine, a wireless drill with cordless batteries, and two GFCI outlets taped together with black tape,’ the detention memorandum said.
Investigators said the items were in the same bag, ‘greatly increasing the risk of an explosion.’
‘His actions seriously jeopardized the lives of airport workers and patrons, and if the explosive had not been intercepted, the flight’s passengers and the aircraft,’ the memo said.
The 40-year-old was arrested at his Lansford, Pennsylvania, home after he made a swift exit from Lehigh Valley International Airport after the device was found.
A heavily armed SWAT team can be seen storming down Muffley’s street in Lansford in video footage provided to WFMZ by neighbor Megan Rims.
Rims said that she lives just a couple doors down from Muffley and said the ordeal sounds ‘terrifying.’
‘I was at work and heard on the news ‘man from Carbon County,’ and I look up and I’m like, ‘that’s my neighbor,” she said.
‘That’s why they were there. Oh, my God,’ she added in reference to the officers.
A relative, who remained anonymous, told the outlet that she doesn’t think her cousin is capable of pulling off such a plot.
‘It’s nice the whole country thinks he’s smart enough to build a bomb. He’s just not that smart,’ they said.
Muffley was taken into FBI custody after an explosive device was found stitched into the lining of his checked luggage.
The ‘bomb’ that was nearly smuggled onto an Allegiant flight and was made from commercial grade fireworks, circular in shape and about three inches in diameter.
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Muffley faces charges of possession of an explosive at an airport and possessing and/or attempting to place an explosive on an aircraft.
Surveillance footage revealed the tense moment a would-be passenger plane ‘bomber’ was arrested after smuggling an explosive device into checked luggage
A heavily armed SWAT team can be seen storming down Muffley’s street in Lansford in video footage from neighbor Megan Rims doorbell
Muffley was arrested at his home on Abbott Street (pictured) on Monday just a few doors down from Rim
He was caught after his bag triggered an alarm before being loaded onto the plane, and the TSA found a ‘circular compound’ hidden in the lining of the baggage, the FBI said.
The ‘powder is suspected to be a mixture of flash powder and the dark granular that are used in commercial grade fireworks’ that was wrapped in wax paper and plastic, a criminal complaint states.
There were also two fuses attached, one of which appeared to be part of the original manufacturing and is used to ignite explosives quickly.
‘Attached to the circular compound was a ‘quick fuse’ and a ‘hobby fuse,” the complaint read.
‘A quick fuse is designed to ignite explosives quickly. It appeared to be a part of the original manufacture of the compound.
‘A ‘hobby fuse’ is a known to be regular fuse that burns slower than a quick fuse. The ‘hobby fuse’ appeared to be added post manufacture.’
The other fuse was added later, and burns slower than a quick fuse, officials said adding that the powders could ignite from heat and friction posing a ‘significant risk’ to the plane and passengers.
Muffley’s bag triggered an alarm before being loaded onto the plane, and the TSA found a ‘circular compound’ hidden in the lining of the baggage, the FBI said
Officials say that the device was concealed inside of a checked piece of luggage and contained multiple fuses
Investigators also found in the suitcase a can of butane, a lighter, a pipe with white powder residue, a wireless drill and two GFCI outlets taped together, the complaint said.
The suspicious package was discovered shortly after 11am on Monday and the west side of the airport’s main terminal was shut down ‘for precautionary measures’ around 11.15am, according to WFMZ.
The ‘bomb’ was removed from the airport. After it’s removal, the main terminal was reopened around 2pm.
Once found, Muffley was called to come to the security desk around 11.40am, but was later seen leaving the airport on security footage at 11.45am.
The 40-year-old has a long rap sheet dating back to 2017, which includes harassment, disorderly conduct, and fighting, according to the Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court.
