An Indian national has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stabbing two minors with a metal fork during a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt on October 25, 2025. Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, faces two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft under U.S. jurisdiction.
According to charging documents, Usiripalli is accused of stabbing one 17-year-old male passenger in the shoulder and another in the back of the head after meal service. The incident occurred while both victims were seated in the center row of the aircraft. One victim suffered a laceration to his head.
Flight crew members intervened and attempted to subdue Usiripalli. During their efforts, he allegedly mimicked shooting himself using his fingers and then slapped a female passenger as well as attempting to slap a crew member. Due to the disturbance, the flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport where Usiripalli was taken into custody.
Authorities stated that Usiripalli had previously entered the United States on a student visa and had been enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies. At the time of the alleged assault, he did not have lawful status in the country.
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said: "The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of Massachusetts State Police; along with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection contributed to this case investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm is prosecuting.
