Man arrested after stabbing 2 teenagers with metal fork on flight
A man has been accused of stabbing two teenagers with a metal fork during a flight from the US to Germany.
Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, struck one 17-year-old in the left collarbone and another in the back of the head, US federal prosecutors said. The shocking mid-air assault forced a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt on Saturday, October 25, 2025, to make an emergency diversion to Boston, where the suspect was arrested upon landing.
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According to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, Usiripalli allegedly attacked the two teenagers shortly after a meal service. One of the boys was asleep in the middle seat when he woke up to find Usiripalli standing over him with a metal fork.
Prosecutors say the suspect suddenly lunged and stabbed him in the left collarbone before turning on another 17-year-old seated nearby, striking him in the back of the head.
The second teenager suffered a laceration but was treated by cabin crew before the aircraft landed. Shocked passengers alerted the flight attendants, who immediately restrained the attacker as panic spread across the cabin.
Crew intervenes mid-flight
When crew members tried to calm him, Usiripalli reportedly became more aggressive, slapping a female passenger and attempting to hit a flight attendant. Witnesses told investigators that the suspect then made a gun gesture with his fingers, placed it in his mouth, and mimicked pulling the trigger.
The pilot declared a mid-air emergency and diverted the aircraft to Boston Logan International Airport, where police and federal agents were waiting. Usiripalli was taken into custody and charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm.
Investigations later revealed that Usiripalli is an Indian national who previously entered the United States on a student visa. He had reportedly been enrolled in a master’s programme in biblical studies but no longer held lawful immigration status.
Federal prosecutors say the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Usiripalli is expected to appear before a US federal court in Massachusetts to face assault charges. The two teenage victims were treated for minor injuries and later continued their journey under airline care.
