An Indian national has been charged in federal court after allegedly stabbing two minors with a metal fork on board a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany. Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, faces one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft under U.S. jurisdiction.
According to charging documents, the incident occurred on October 25, 2025, during Lufthansa flight 431. Usiripalli is accused of stabbing a 17-year-old male passenger in the shoulder area and then stabbing another 17-year-old male in the back of the head with the same fork. The second victim suffered a laceration.
The documents state that after meal service, one of the victims was lightly sleeping when he awoke to see Usiripalli standing over him and striking him with a fork. Usiripalli then allegedly attacked the second minor seated nearby. Following this, he reportedly made a gesture mimicking shooting himself and slapped both a female passenger and attempted to slap a crew member.
Due to the disturbance, the flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport where authorities took Usiripalli into custody immediately upon landing.
Officials said that Usiripalli had previously entered the United States on a student visa and was most recently enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies. He currently does not have lawful status in the country.
If convicted, Usiripalli could face up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. Sentencing would be determined by federal guidelines and statutes.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.”
Authorities emphasized that “the details contained in the charging documents are allegations” and that “the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
