An Indian national has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stabbing two minors with a metal fork on board a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, on October 25, 2025. The incident led to the diversion of the aircraft to Boston Logan International Airport, where the suspect was taken into custody.
According to court documents, Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. Usiripalli was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa and had been enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies. At the time of the alleged incident, he did not have lawful status in the country.
The indictment alleges that after meal service during Lufthansa flight 431, Usiripalli stabbed one 17-year-old male passenger in the shoulder area and then stabbed another 17-year-old male passenger in the back of his head using a metal fork. The second victim suffered a laceration.
Flight crew members intervened and attempted to subdue Usiripalli. During this attempt, he allegedly made a gesture simulating shooting himself before turning toward another female passenger and slapping her. He also allegedly tried to slap a crew member.
Following these events, the plane was diverted to Boston where authorities apprehended Usiripalli. He remains detained pending trial and will be arraigned at a later date in federal court in Boston.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection assisted with the investigation.
If convicted, Usiripalli faces up to ten years in prison for each count as well as supervised release and fines up to $250,000 per count.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm from the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.
