Mark Muffley has been charged after an explosive device was found in his luggage at Lehigh Valley International Airport, Pennsylvania, court documents said. He was traveling to Florida.
Muffley has been charged with possession of an explosive device in an airport, or attempting to place, or attempted to have placed an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft. His luggage was being loaded onto an Allegiant flight.
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Who is Mark Muffley?
Mark Muffley, as per documents, is 40 years old. He is from Lansford, Pennsylvania and was traveling to Florida on Monday.
The 40-year-old reportedly checked in at the Allegiant airline desk at the airport shortly after 10:45 am on February 27, 2023. Muffley had booked a flight to Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida.
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At around 11:40 am, an alarm went off when TSA screened Muffley’s baggage which indicated it contained suspicious items. It found a circular compound, about three inches in diameter, wrapped in wax-like paper and clear plastic wrap concealed in the baggage, according to the complaint. The immediate area of the airport was evacuated following TSA notifying Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority Police Department and FBI.
FBI agents including a bomb technician determined that it contained a granular type of powder, a “fuse” to ignite explosives, which concluded was explosive.
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The airport then asked for Muffley, requesting him to report to the security desk. The cameras captured him leaving the airport via the lower-level exit around 11:45 am, investigators said.
The FBI reached Carbon County Chief of Detectives and former Lansford Police Chief Jack Soberick, who knew Muffley personally. The 40-year-old was arrested at his home in Lansford on Monday night.
He is charged with possession of an explosive in an airport and possessing, or attempting to place, or attempting to have placed, an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft. His probable cause and detention hearings are scheduled for Thursday at 1:30 pm in Allentown.
