TSA Agents Detect Explosive Device in Suspect’s Baggage

Last week, during a routine Transportation Security Administration (TSA) passenger screening at Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), an alarm alerted TSA agents of a suspicious article of luggage belonging to a forty-year-old Pennsylvania man.

The individual in question had checked his baggage for Allegiant Air flight G4 201, an Airbus A-320 bound for Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). The alarm’s sounding compelled TSA agents to search the suspicious bag—in which they discovered a compound formed into a circular shape bound in wax-paper and plastic-wrap.

The carefully wrapped parcel was found secreted away in the bag’s lining. In addition to the circular object, TSA agents discovered a can of butane, a pipe with white particulate residue, a lighter, two ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets, and a cordless drill with batteries.

The nature of the found articles and their purposeful concealment led TSA agents to presume they’d discovered a live explosive device.

A bomb technician was subsequently and appropriately summoned to assess the bag and its contents. Upon further examination, it was determined that the wrapped compound was indeed an explosive device to which two fuses had been attached. The device was found to contain a powder consistent with those used in commercial-grade fireworks, meaning it was susceptible to ignition from heat and friction.

TSA agents commenced paging the bag’s owner via the airport’s intercom system, requesting he report to the ABE security desk. Despite numerous pages, the suspected would-be bomber never presented. Security cameras, however, captured the individual leaving the airport minutes after the first page was announced.

Out of an abundance of caution, the ABE airport and adjacent structures were evacuated, and part of its main terminal was briefly closed. In accordance with applicable protocols, the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were notified of the occurrence.

TSA Federal Security Director Karen Keys-Turner stated: "Transportation Security Officers are highly trained and highly skilled professionals at the front line of aviation security who focus on their mission and catches. This is an example of how the strong partnerships we have established came together to ensure the safety and security of the traveling public. I commend our entire TSA team at Lehigh Valley International Airport and how this incident was handled professionally."

Although the suspect left the airport minutes after being paged, he was arrested without incident by FBI agents who tracked him to his residence. The man was charged with the possession of an explosive in an airport and possessing or attempting to place an explosive on an aircraft.

The suspect was known to local law-enforcement, albeit for minor offenses such as retail theft, drug arrests, and low-level misdemeanors. While the motives for his sudden and drastic escalation to domestic terrorism and possible mass-murder are evaluated by police and FBI investigators, the as-of-yet unnamed suspect remains in custody with probable cause and detention bail hearings pending.

The suspect’s motivations and state of mind notwithstanding, it remains profoundly fortunate that TSA personnel intercepted the explosive device, thereby precluding its loading onto the outbound Allegiant Air flight and possible detonation. That hundreds of lives may be owed to the vigilance and professionalism of the ABE TSA staff is a distinct and worrying possibility.

FMI: www.tsa.gov