A terrifying scene unfolded aboard Lufthansa Flight 431 when a man allegedly attacked two teenage passengers with a fork and lashed out at others before the plane was forced to divert to Boston.
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Federal prosecutors say 28-year-old Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, an Indian national who had previously entered the U.S. on a student visa, stabbed one 17-year-old boy in the clavicle and another in the head using a metal fork. The attack happened while the plane was cruising from Chicago to Munich, Germany, on Saturday.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, one of the teens had been asleep when he woke to find Usiripalli hovering over him. Without warning, he was stabbed. The second teen, seated next to the first, was also struck in the head, resulting in a bleeding cut.
The situation escalated when Usiripalli reportedly slapped a female passenger and then attempted to strike a flight attendant. Witnesses say he also made a disturbing gesture — mimicking a gun with his hand and pretending to shoot himself in the mouth.
The pilot quickly made the decision to divert to Boston Logan International Airport, where law enforcement was waiting. Usiripalli was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors revealed he no longer has a valid immigration status.
He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted. As of Tuesday, no defense attorney had been listed in the federal court system.
The incident is still under investigation by federal authorities.
