Flight Diversion Due to Assault Incident

An Indian man is facing charges after allegedly stabbing two teenagers with a metal fork aboard a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany, which had to be diverted to Boston, Massachusetts.

Praneeth Kumar Ushiripalli has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon while traveling by air, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. Authorities noted that he was in the U.S. on a student visa but currently lacks legal immigration status and is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He had most recently enrolled in a master’s program focusing on Biblical Studies.

The incident occurred on October 25, at approximately 30,000 feet. Reports indicate that Ushiripalli attacked two passengers, first stabbing a 17-year-old boy in the shoulder. He then allegedly struck another 17-year-old in the back of the head with the same fork.

A complaint revealed that the first victim had been napping in seat 43D and woke to find Ushiripalli standing over him. Shortly thereafter, he was stabbed in the collarbone. The second victim, also 17, was seated nearby and suffered a laceration to the back of his head during the attack.

As chaos unfolded, flight attendants rushed to intervene. Witnesses reported that Ushiripalli made strange statements and gestures, such as mimicking a gun with his fingers and shouting incoherent phrases including names like “Barack Obama” and references to “the coronavirus.”

Due to the disturbance, the flight was redirected to Boston Logan International Airport, where Ushiripalli was detained. The fork used in the assault was later found in a garbage can in the galley, according to authorities.

Ushiripalli is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. He could potentially face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

No comments were issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding the situation.