Get All Access for $5/mo

Man Arrested After Trying to Smuggle Explosives on U.S. Flight The man, identified as 40-year-old Marc Muffley, was scheduled to fly on Allegiant Flight 201 from Lehigh Valley International Airport to Florida's Orlando Sanford International Airport.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Getty Images

A horrifying threat hit the skies this week when a man attempted to board a flight after checking a suitcase with an explosive device.

The man, identified as 40-year-old Marc Muffley, was set to jet on Allegiant Flight 201 from Lehigh Valley International Airport to Florida's Orlando Sanford International Airport.

According to the AP, authorities sounded an emergency alert after a "circular" compound was found packed in clear plastic wrap and wax paper in checked bags. After an X-ray, the FBI found its contents to be consistent with explosive powders, with two handmade fuses attached.

Related: 'Lighting Hit the Plane Badly': 7 Passengers Hospitalized After 'Severe Turbulence' Forces Plane Into Emergency Landing

Muffley's checked baggage also contained a lighter, a pipe, a can of butane, and a drill among other suspicious devices.

The 40-year-old was arrested at his home Monday night on charges of "possessing an explosive in an airport and possessing or attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft" and is in custody. A hearing was set for Thursday afternoon.

"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," a court document read.

Per the same document, Muffley also had an active warrant in his name for not paying child support, according to his girlfriend.

The Lehigh Valley International Airport currently offers departing flights to 15 destinations.

Allegiant has not yet commented on the incident.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

How to Find the Right Programmers: A Brief Guideline for Startup Founders

For startup founders under a plethora of challenges like timing, investors and changing market demand, it is extremely hard to hire programmers who can deliver.

Franchise

McDonald's Is Launching the Highly Anticipated Chicken Big Mac in the U.S. — Here's When

The sandwich was a massive hit in the United Kingdom, selling out in just 10 days during its limited run in 2022.

Marketing

Many Brands Risk Being Left Behind By Overlooking These Critical Advertising Steps

Learn how to use smart marketing tools and AI to optimize online advertising and maximize ad spend in today's competitive landscape.