Indian National Arrested For Allegedly Stabbing Two Teenagers On Lufthansa Flight From Chicago To Germany | World News

An Indian national has been charged in the US for allegedly stabbing two young passengers with a metal fork on a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, prompting his urgent diversion to Boston. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to inflict bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft under United States private aircraft jurisdiction. He was arrested when he landed at Boston Logan International Airport on October 25, 2025, and is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

The criminal complaint alleges that Usiripalli attacked two 17-year-old male passengers sitting next to him during Lufthansa flight 431. After the meal was served, one of the minors, identified in court documents as “Little A,” woke up to find Usiripalli standing next to him. Usiripalli then allegedly hit him on the shoulder with a metal fork. Moments later, Usiripalli is said to have attacked “Minor B”, who was sitting next to Minor A, and stabbed him in the back of the head, causing the injury.

Flight attendants and passengers intervened to restrain Usiripalli, but he became increasingly unstable, according to the affidavit; He raised his hand in the shape of a gun, pretended to pull the trigger in his mouth, slapped a nearby female passenger, and attempted to attack a crew member.

Due to the disturbance, the flight was diverted to Boston, where law enforcement officers detained Usiripalli.

Court records show Usiripalli, who previously entered the United States on a student visa, was enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies but does not currently have legal immigration status.

If convicted, Usiripalli faces up to 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit, with investigative support from the FBI’s Boston Division, Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Authorities emphasized that the details in the complaint are allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.