A Lansford man is expected to plead guilty to federal charges after attempting to check luggage with an explosive device and board a plane at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown last February.

Marc Muffley, 41, was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Allentown, Wednesday morning for a change of plea hearing.

He was scheduled to go to trial next month on charges of possession of an explosive in an airport, and possession or attempting to place, or attempting to have placed, an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.

Muffley has been in federal custody since the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of local authorities took him into custody at his East Abbott Street home Feb. 28.

According to arrest papers, the Transportation Safety Administration at the airport contacted the FBI for assistance after identifying what they believed was an explosive in a suitcase.

The suitcase was checked by Muffley, a passenger on a flight bound for the Orlando Sanford International Airport. TSA screened the bag prior to it being loaded into the cargo area of the aircraft.

Agents found a circular compound, about three inches in diameter, wrapped in a wax-like paper and clear plastic wrap hidden in the lining of the suitcase, arrest papers said.

The circular compound contained a granular type of powder consistent with commercial grade fireworks, and also had quick fuse, which appeared to be part of the original manufacture, and a slower burning hobby fuse, which appeared to be added, court papers said.

The agents defined the compound recovered as an explosive, which posed a significant risk to the aircraft and passengers.

The baggage also contained 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.

Muffley had been dropped off at the airport at 10:45 a.m. and TSA found the explosive at 11:40 a.m.

TSA paged Muffley over the airport public address system, requesting he report to the security desk. Security cameras captured Muffley leaving the airport at 11:45 a.m.

FBI agents contacted Carbon County Chief of Detective Jack Soberick, formerly of Lansford police, who knew Muffley and confirmed his address.

Agents later arrested him at his home around 11:30 p.m. According to court records, Muffley has been cited for several offenses, including disorderly conduct in December 2021, harassment in November 2018 and retail theft in January 2018.

The portions of the airport were shut down for at least two hours, and a flight bound for Florida canceled, according to passengers waiting for flights.