Man convicted of trying to take explosives on Florida-bound flight

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Pennsylvania man was convicted Thursday of trying to take explosives on a flight to Florida and then fleeing the airport when his name was searched, according to the Transportation Security Administration .

Marc Muffley, 41, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release after checking a bag containing an explosive device, butane, lithium-ion batteries and a lighter in February 2023 at the international airport of Lehigh Valley.

He was trying to get to Orlando-Sanford Airport.

“Possession of an explosive device on board an aircraft poses a serious risk of fire, explosion, and catastrophic consequences to everyone on board,” U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said in a statement.

When Muffley heard his name being called over the airport public address system, he fled the airport and called his girlfriend for a ride, officials said. He also changed his phone number to avoid being tracked.

The man was arrested by the FBI a day later and pleaded guilty in January.

“Protecting the American people is at the very heart of our mission at the FBI, and this case demonstrates how seriously we must take that mission,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Philadelphia, in a statement. communicated.