A disturbing event unfolded on a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, resulting in the arrest of an Indian national after he allegedly assaulted two teenage passengers with a metal fork. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, led to the diversion of the flight to Boston Logan International Airport, where 28-year-old Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli was taken into custody by authorities.
According to the statement from the Massachusetts US Attorney's office, obtained by The Boston Globe, Usiripalli is accused of stabbing a 17-year-old in the shoulder area and inflicting upon a second 17-year-old a wound to the back of the head, with the same metal fork. The assault occurred following the meal service on Lufthansa flight 431 when one of the teenage victims, seated in a middle seat, awoke to Usiripalli standing over him and then allegedly being struck. The second teenager was subject to a laceration-causing blow to the head.
The U.S. Attorney's Office District of Massachusetts has charged Usiripalli with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while on an aircraft. In the chaotic scene described in court documents, Usiripalli's behavior escalated as he formed a gun with his fingers, placed it in his mouth, pulled an imaginary trigger, and consequently slapped a female passenger and lunged at a flight crew member. The information was reported by CBS News Chicago.
Usiripalli, originally granted entry to the U.S. on a student visa, was pursuing a master’s degree in biblical studies, but according to the attorney's office, he currently does not have lawful status in the country. If convicted of the charges, he faces up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. A date for his federal court appearance in Boston is yet to be scheduled. Lufthansa Airlines, thus far, has not provided a comment on the incident.
