Surveillance footage has revealed the tense moment when a so-called passenger jet ‘bomber’ was arrested after smuggling an explosive device in checked baggage.
Marc Muffley, 40, is facing charges of conspiracy to destroy an Allegiant flight flying from eastern Pennsylvania to Sanford, Florida — but family say he’s “not smart enough.”
The 40-year-old was arrested at his home in Lansford, Pennsylvania, after quickly exiting Lehigh Valley International Airport after the device was found.
He will appear via video conference before a court in Allentown for a probable hearing and bail hearing to be held later today.
Surveillance footage has revealed the tense moment a so-called passenger jet ‘bomber’ was arrested after smuggling an explosive device in checked baggage
Marc Muffley, 40, is charged with conspiracy to destroy an Allegiant flight flying from eastern Pennsylvania to Sanford, Florida — but family say he’s ‘not smart enough’
Muffley was about to take an Allegiant flight from eastern Pennsylvania to Sanford, Florida. He has been charged with possessing an explosive device at an airport and possessing, attempting to plant or having placed an explosive device on an aircraft
Video footage provided to shows a heavily armed SWAT team charging down Muffley’s street in Lansford WFMZ by neighbor Megan Rims.
Rims said she lives just a few doors down from Muffley and said the ordeal sounds “terrifying.”
“I was at work and I heard ‘man from Carbon County’ on the news, 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, referring to the officers.
A family member, who remained anonymous, told the outlet she doesn’t think her cousin is capable of concocting such a plot.
“It’s nice that the whole country thinks he’s smart enough to build a bomb. He’s just not that smart,” they said.
Muffley was taken into custody by the FBI after an explosive device was found suffocated in the liner of his checked baggage.
The “bomb” nearly smuggled onto an Allegiant flight was made of commercial firecrackers, round in shape and about four inches in diameter.
Muffley is charged with possessing an explosive device at an airport and possessing and/or attempting to plant an explosive device on an aircraft.
Video footage from neighbor Megan Rim’s doorbell shows a heavily armed SWAT team storming down Muffley’s street in Lansford
Muffley was arrested Monday at his home on Abbott Street (pictured), just a few doors down from Rim
He was caught after his bag set off an alarm before being loaded onto the plane, and the TSA found a “round compound” hidden in the luggage’s liner, the FBI said.
The “powder is believed to be a mixture of flash powder and the dark granulate used in commercial-grade fireworks” that was wrapped in wax paper and plastic, a criminal complaint states.
Two fuses were also attached, one of which appears to have been part of the original manufacture and is used to quickly detonate explosives.
“Connected to the circular connection was a ‘fast fuse’ and a ‘hobby fuse,'” the complaint read.
‘A fast fuse is designed to ignite explosives quickly. It turned out to be part of the compound’s original manufacture.
‘A ‘hobby fuse’ is a well-known regular fuse that burns more slowly than a fast fuse. The ‘hobby fuse’ turned out to have been added afterwards.’
The other fuse was added later and burns more slowly than a fast fuse, officials said, adding that the powders can 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 luggage’s lining, the FBI said
Officials say the device was hidden in a checked piece of luggage and contained multiple fuses
Investigators also found in the trunk a can of butane, a lighter, a pipe with white powder residue, a cordless drill and two GFCIs stuck together, the indictment said.
The suspicious package was discovered shortly after 11 a.m. on Monday, and the west side of the airport’s main terminal was closed “as a precaution” around 11:15 a.m. WFMZ.
The ‘bomb’ was removed from the airport. After the removal, the main terminal was released again around 2 p.m.
Once found, Muffley was called to the security desk at around 11:40 a.m., but was later seen on security footage at 11:45 a.m. leaving the airport.
The 40-year-old has a long criminal record dating back to 2017, including harassment, disorderly conduct and fighting, according to the Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court.