Man who stabbed teenagers in mid-flight to faces 10 years jail term

28.10.2025
An Indian man identified as Indian national Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, has been detained by the US authorities after he stabbed two teenagers during a flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany.
The Lufthansa flight due to the commotion on board was diverted to Boston and the Usiripalli was arrested and kept in custody.
According to a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts Usiripalli, who is in the US on a student visa for a master’s program in biblical studies, allegedly stabbed the two unidentified 17-year-old passengers with a fork, one in the shoulder and one in the head.
“Following meal service, Minor A was sleeping lightly in a middle seat when he allegedly awoke to see Usiripalli standing over him,” the press release said. “It is alleged that Usiripalli used his right hand to strike Minor A in the left clavicle area with a metal fork. Usiripalli then allegedly lunged toward Minor B – who was seated to Minor A’s right in a middle seat in the center row of the aircraft – and struck Minor B in the back of his head with the fork. Minor B suffered a laceration to the rear of his head.”
“When flight crew members attempted to subdue Usiripalli, he allegedly raised his hand, formed a gun with his fingers, put it in his mouth and pulled an imaginary trigger. Immediately afterwards, Usiripalli allegedly turned toward a female passenger to his left and slapped her with his hand. Usiripalli also allegedly attempted to slap a flight crew member.
“As a result of the disturbance, the flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where Usiripalli was immediately taken into custody,” said the statement.
Usiripalli was charged with one count of 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, He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if found guilty.
Lufthansa said in a statement that the flight diversion “was necessitated by the behavior of an unruly passenger, who was taken into custody by local authorities upon arrival. Consequently, the onward flight to Frankfurt did not continue as scheduled.” The statement added that “all passengers were provided with hotel accommodations and were rebooked on the next available flights.”