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Indian national accused of stabbing two teens with metal forks on Lufthansa flight from Chicago
The incident took place on October 25 on a Lufthansa flight, which was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport.
A 28-year-old Indian national has been charged in the United States after he allegedly stabbed two teenage passengers with a metal fork and slapped another co-passenger on a flight from Chicago to Germany, US authorities said.
The incident took place on October 25 on a Lufthansa flight, which was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport following the disturbance, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a press release on Monday.
According to charging documents, the Indian national, identified as Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, stabbed a 17-year-old male passenger in the shoulder and another 17-year-old male passenger in the back of the head with a metal fork, causing a laceration.
“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,” the attorney’s office said.
“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,” it added.
Usiripalli has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while travelling on an aircraft. He was arrested on October 25 and is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
The Indian national is currently without lawful immigration status in the US. Authorities said he previously held a student visa and was enrolled in a master’s programme in biblical studies.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
