Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli–a 28-year-old Indian national–has been charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon after he allegedly used a fork to attack two teenage boys on a flight to Germany.
Usiripalli’s alleged conduct required the flight, which departed from Chicago, to make an emergency landing at Logan Airport.
According to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office,
on Oct. 25, 2025, while on board Lufthansa flight 431 enroute from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, Usiripalli allegedly stabbed a 17-year-old male passenger (Minor A) in the shoulder area with a metal fork. Usiripalli then allegedly stabbed a second 17-year-old male passenger (Minor B) in the back of the head with the same metal fork. Specifically, following meal service, Minor A was sleeping lightly in a middle seat when he allegedly awoke to see Usiripalli standing over him. 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 and slapped her with his hand. Usiripalli also allegedly attempted to slap a flight crew member.
Officials claim that Usiripalli was initially in the United States on a student visa earning a master’s degree in biblical studies, but his legal status had expired.
He will be arraigned in federal court on December 3. If convicted, Usiripalli could serve up to ten years in prison.