A 28-year-old Indian national has been charged with assault after allegedly stabbing two teenage passengers with a metal fork during a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany. The violent mid-air incident on Saturday (25) forced the aircraft to divert and make an emergency landing at Boston Logan International Airport, according to a statement from the US attorney's office for the District of Massachusetts.
The accused, identified as Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, allegedly attacked two 17-year-old male passengers during the meal service. According to charging documents, he first stabbed one of the teens in the shoulder with a metal fork and then turned on the second teen, stabbing him in the back of the head with the same utensil. The second victim reportedly sustained a head laceration but survived the assault.
Authorities said Usiripalli has been charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while on an aircraft under the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States. He was arrested after the flight landed safely in Boston and will appear before a federal court at a later date.
If convicted, Usiripalli faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The court documents also describe his erratic behavior after the stabbings. When passengers tried to restrain him, he allegedly formed his fingers into the shape of a gun, pointed it at his mouth, and mimed pulling a trigger. He then slapped a female passenger and attempted to hit a flight crew member before being subdued.
Investigators have confirmed that Usiripalli currently has no lawful immigration status in the United States. He was previously in the country on a student visa, pursuing a master’s degree in biblical studies, but his visa status had since expired.
The motive for the violent outburst remains unclear, and authorities continue to investigate the circumstances leading to the attack. The incident caused considerable panic among passengers before the aircraft was safely diverted. Lufthansa has not issued a detailed public statement but confirmed that crew members acted swiftly to ensure passenger safety.
