BOSTON (Diya TV) — An Indian national living in the United States illegally has been arrested after allegedly stabbing two teenagers with a metal fork on a Lufthansa flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Boston.
Federal prosecutors say 28-year-old Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli attacked the teens during Lufthansa Flight 431 from Chicago to Germany on Saturday, creating chaos thousands of feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Authorities charged him with assault with a dangerous weapon while on an aircraft, a federal crime that carries up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, the violent episode began when one of the teenage victims, both 17, was asleep in his seat. He woke up to find Usiripalli standing over him. Moments later, the suspect allegedly stabbed him in the shoulder with a metal fork.
Witnesses told investigators that Usiripalli then turned toward the second teen and stabbed him in the back of the head. Passengers described a scene of panic and confusion as people screamed for help.
Flight attendants rushed to intervene, but the suspect’s behavior became even more erratic. Officials said Usiripalli made a gun gesture with his hand, placed it inside his mouth, and pretended to pull the trigger. He also allegedly slapped a woman sitting nearby and swung at a crew member who tried to stop him.
Lufthansa pilots quickly declared an emergency and diverted the jet to Boston Logan International Airport. The flight landed safely, and federal agents and Massachusetts State Police boarded the plane on the tarmac. Officers arrested Usiripalli without further incident. Both teenage victims received medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries before continuing their journey. Lufthansa confirmed the diversion and said in a statement that “the safety of passengers and crew is our top priority.”
The airline praised its crew for acting swiftly and thanked U.S. authorities for their quick response. Court documents reveal that Usiripalli is an Indian national who no longer has lawful immigration status in the United States. Officials said he originally entered the country several years ago on a student visa. He had reportedly been enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies, but his visa expired after he stopped attending classes.
Immigration authorities are now reviewing his case while the criminal investigation proceeds. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is assisting federal prosecutors in handling the immigration aspects of the case. Usiripalli faces a federal charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft. He remains in federal custody and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Boston at a later date.
If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence, followed by deportation. Prosecutors emphasized that violent behavior aboard commercial flights poses a serious risk to passengers and crew.
“The safety of everyone on board an aircraft is paramount,” prosecutors said in a statement. “Any act of violence in the air will be met with swift and serious legal consequences.”
The incident has renewed concerns about airline security and passenger safety. While in-flight assaults are rare, officials note that federal law allows for strong penalties when violence occurs aboard U.S.-bound or U.S.-origin flights. Lufthansa said it is cooperating fully with investigators. The airline also confirmed that passengers were rebooked on other flights to Germany after the emergency landing.
