American authorities have charged a 28-year-old Indian national following a distressing incident aboard a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany. He is accused of stabbing two teenagers with a metal fork and assaulting another passenger, leading to an emergency diversion.
The alarming event unfolded on a Saturday, October 25, 2025, on a Lufthansa flight. Due to the severe disturbance, the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at Boston Logan International Airport, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts in a press release dated Monday, October 27.
Court documents reveal the accused, Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, allegedly attacked a 17-year-old male passenger, stabbing him in the shoulder with a metal fork. He then reportedly used the same fork to stab another 17-year-old male passenger in the back of the head, causing a laceration.
Usiripalli now faces a charge in the U.S. District Court for assault with a dangerous weapon, intending to inflict bodily harm while onboard an aircraft within the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States.
Arrested on October 25, Usiripalli is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston at a future date to face these serious allegations.
Should he be convicted, Usiripalli could potentially receive a prison sentence of up to 10 years, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a substantial fine of up to $250,000.
The alleged assault reportedly occurred shortly after the meal service concluded on the flight.
During efforts to restrain Usiripalli, court documents claim he made a gun gesture with his fingers, placed them in his mouth, and simulated pulling a trigger. He is further accused of slapping a female passenger and attempting to strike a flight crew member.
Authorities also noted that Usiripalli currently lacks legal status in the U.S. Previously, he resided in the U.S. on a student visa, enrolled in a master’s program focused on biblical studies.