Two Teenagers Stabbed with Metal Fork on Lufthansa Flight to Germany, Forcing Emergency Diversion to Boston

A Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany was forced to make an emergency landing in Boston after a passenger allegedly attacked two teenage boys with a metal fork during the meal service. The disturbing midair incident occurred aboard Lufthansa Flight 431 on Saturday, October 25, leading to the arrest of 28-year-old Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the violence began when a 17-year-old boy seated in the middle row awoke to find Usiripalli standing over him. The teenager, who had been “sleeping lightly,” was stabbed in the left clavicle with a fork taken from the meal service. Another 17-year-old boy sitting nearby was also attacked and sustained a laceration to the back of his head when Usiripalli allegedly lunged at him with the same weapon.

The chaotic scene unfolded shortly after cabin crew had completed meal service. Prosecutors said that when flight attendants approached the suspect, he allegedly formed a gun shape with his fingers, placed it in his mouth, and pretended to pull the trigger. Usiripalli then allegedly slapped a female passenger seated to his left and tried to strike a flight crew member, escalating the disturbance.

The pilots diverted the flight to Boston Logan International Airport, where law enforcement officers boarded the aircraft and took Usiripalli into custody. He has been charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft, a federal offense carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Authorities confirmed that Usiripalli is an Indian national who originally entered the United States on a student visa while enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies but no longer holds lawful immigration status. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and officials have not released information about his mental state or whether any prior incidents occurred during the flight.

While no fatalities were reported, both teenagers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and received medical attention after the plane landed safely in Boston. Lufthansa confirmed that the safety of passengers and crew was maintained at all times and that the airline is cooperating fully with U.S. federal authorities in the investigation.

The case adds to a growing number of in-flight disturbances and violent incidents reported in recent years, prompting renewed concerns over passenger behavior and aviation safety. Federal prosecutors emphasized that such acts of violence aboard commercial aircraft are taken extremely seriously due to the potential risks they pose to everyone on board.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com