An explosive device was found in a checked piece of luggage at Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley International Airport.
The incident occurred Monday morning when the suspect, Mark Muffley, 40 of Lansford, Penn., checked his bag to fly to Orlando Sanford International Airport, reports ABC News.
When airport security located the explosive, Muffley had already continued further into the airport. They made an announcement over the airport intercom for him to report to the security desk, but cameras show him exiting the airport minutes later, according to the criminal complaint.
Muffley was arrested by the FBI at his home in Lansford later that night and is due in court Thursday afternoon.
“We would commend the teamwork, coordination and quick actions of TSA, our police department, airport security and all parties involved,” Colin Riccobon, Director of Public and Government Relations for the airport told the Daily News. “This was a tremendous effort to prevent this from becoming a larger issue.”
Riccobon also confirmed the explosive device was in a checked bag, which was found before it made it further into the airport or onto a plane.
The device was located in the lining of the luggage, and measured just 3 inches in diameter, consisting of “two fuses and powder concealed in wax paper and plastic wrap.”
This powder was determined to contain similar materials used in commercial grade fireworks, which are “susceptible to ignite from heat and friction and posed a significant risk to the aircraft and passengers,” the complaint said.
Also found in the bag was “a can of butane, a lighter, a pipe with white powder residue, a wireless drill with cordless batteries, and two GFCI outlets taped together with black tape,” the complaint said.
Muffley remains in custody and is charged with possession of an explosive in an airport and possessing, or attempting to place, an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.