A Lufthansa flight traveling from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, was forced to divert to Boston Logan International Airport on Saturday after a passenger allegedly stabbed two teenage boys with a metal fork, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, has been charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm in connection with the incident. He was taken into custody upon the plane’s arrival in Boston.
Prosecutors stated that a 17-year-old passenger was awakened by usiripalli standing over him with a fork after a meal service. Usiripalli then allegedly lunged at the teen, striking his left clavicle, and subsequently stabbed another 17-year-old in the back of the head. The second teen sustained a laceration.
Authorities say that when flight crew attempted to restrain Usiripalli, he mimicked firing a gun with his fingers and verbally threatened passengers, slapping one woman and attempting to strike a crew member.
Usiripalli, an Indian national, had previously entered the U.S. on a student visa and was studying biblical studies at the master’s level. The U.S. attorney’s office confirmed he is currently in the country without lawful status.
It is currently unknown if Usiripalli has retained legal counsel. A spokesperson for Lufthansa has not yet responded to requests for comment.
