An Indian student has been accused of attacking two teenage passengers with a metal fork on a Lufthansa flight from the United States to Germany. The man, identified as Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, also allegedly struck a woman and tried to assault a flight attendant before being restrained by the crew.
The flight, which departed from Chicago O’Hare International Airport for Frankfurt, was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport after the incident.
What happened on board
According to a report by The Independent, the attack took place about two hours into the flight while meals were being served. One of the teenage boys, who was sitting in the middle seat, was asleep when he woke up to find Usiripalli standing over him.
Usiripalli allegedly stabbed the teen in the clavicle with a fork before turning to the second boy and jamming the fork into the back of his head, leaving a deep cut.
When crew members tried to intervene, Usiripalli reportedly made a gun gesture with his fingers, placed it in his mouth, and mimed pulling the trigger. He then slapped a female passenger and attempted to strike a flight attendant, according to court documents cited by US prosecutors.
He was eventually subdued by the crew and other passengers until the plane made an emergency landing in Boston, where law enforcement took him into custody.
Who is Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli?
Usiripalli, 28, is an Indian national studying for a master’s degree in biblical studies in the United States. He entered the country on a student visa but, according to US authorities, he does not currently have lawful immigration status.
He has been charged with “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.”
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 (around Rs 2.2 crore). He is expected to appear in a federal court in Boston, though the date has not yet been announced. It is unclear whether he has legal representation.
Past mid-air violence incidents
This is not the first time such violence has occurred on a US flight. In March 2023, a man named Francisco Severo Torres attempted to stab several people, including a flight attendant, with a broken spoon on a United Airlines flight.
According to a statement by the US Department of Justice, Torres tried to open the emergency exit and “thrust towards one of the flight attendants in a stabbing motion … hitting the flight attendant on the neck area three times.” He also shouted, “I’m taking over this plane” and “I will kill every man on this plane.”
Torres was arrested upon arrival in Boston, later pleaded guilty, and was banned from flying commercially.
Authorities said he had a history of mental health problems and prior encounters with law enforcement.
A growing pattern of unruly passengers
Aviation authorities have raised concerns about a sharp rise in violent or threatening incidents during flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported a “rapid growth” in disruptive passenger behaviour in recent years, including assaults on crew and passengers.
The agency has urged airlines to tighten in-flight security protocols and maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward unruly behaviour.
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