Indian national charged with stabbing teens on Lufthansa flight

An Indian national has been charged with allegedly stabbing two teenagers with a metal fork on a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany and forcing the plane to divert to Boston, Massachusetts.

Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to cause bodily harm while traveling on an airplane, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Authorities said he was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa, no longer has legal immigration status and is now in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. He recently enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies.

Prosecutors said the calm of the cabin was disrupted on Oct. 25, when Usiripalli allegedly attacked two teenage passengers at an altitude of 30,000 feet, first stabbing a 17-year-old boy in the shoulder with a metal fork, then hitting another 17-year-old boy in the back of the head with the same tool.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT’S COSTLY MISTAKE RESULTS IN DELTA FLIGHT LANDING AND LONG PASSENGER DELAYS

In the complaint obtained by Fox News Digital, authorities said the first victim, a 17-year-old, had been napping in seat 43D when he woke up to find Usiripalli standing next to him. A few minutes later, Usiripalli allegedly hit the teenager in the left collarbone with a metal fork he held in his right hand.

Usiripalli then turned toward a second boy, a 17-year-old resident of 43E, and allegedly attacked him by stabbing him in the back of the head with the same fork, according to authorities. The young man was injured in the back of his head.

In the footage obtained by Fox News Digital from the criminal complaint, blood can be seen on the 17-year-old boy’s scalp and hair.

In the footage obtained by Fox News Digital from the criminal complaint, blood can be seen on the 17-year-old boy’s scalp and hair. (Department of Justice – District of Massachusetts)

PASSENGER ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED ALASKA AIRLINES CREW, FORCING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT BOISE AIRPORT

As the argument on the plane escalated, flight attendants intervened. While trying to restrain him, Usiripalli allegedly raised his hand, formed the shape of a gun with his fingers, put the gun in his mouth and pretended to pull the trigger.

Moments later, authorities said the man allegedly turned to a woman sitting next to him and slapped her, then tried to attack a crew member.

Witnesses said he was yelling incoherently and using strange phrases like “Quran,” “Barack and Michelle Obama,” “King,” “I’m a sinner in Siddhartha’s eyes,” “happy times everyone” and “I’m the cause of COVID,” according to the complaint.

READ THE COMPLAINT – APPLICATION USERS, CLICK HERE

As a result of the disturbance, the flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where Usiripalli was immediately detained.

The complaint stated that authorities found the fork used in the attack in the kitchen trash can.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Usiripalli will appear in Boston federal court “at a later date,” authorities said. He could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office had no comment.