Pennsylvania man tried to transport explosives on plane to Orlando; sentenced

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania man has been convicted of trying to plant an explosive device on an Orlando-bound plane.

Marc Muffley, 41, of Landsford, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced.

According to Romero, on February 27, 2023, Muffley had a bag containing an explosive device, a can of butane, lithium batteries and a lighter, among other items at Lehigh Valley International Airport. He checked the bag for a flight to Orlando Sanford International.

Muffley admitted to the FBI that he heard his name called over the airport public address system and he immediately left the airport and called his girlfriend to come pick him up. He then changed his phone number so he could not be traced.

His attempts to avoid arrest failed as the FBI arrested him the next day. Muffley pleaded guilty Jan. 17, Romero said.

“[The] Marc Muffley’s conviction serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to strict safety regulations and protocols in air travel,” U.S. Attorney Romero said in a statement. “Possession of an explosive on board an aircraft poses a serious risk of fire, explosion and catastrophic consequences to all persons on board.”

The matter was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Schopf.