6 months ago
3
A Telugu idiosyncratic has been charged successful the United States for allegedly stabbing 2 teenage passengers with a metallic fork during a Lufthansa formation from Chicago to Frankfurt, forcing the craft to divert to Boston.
The accused, identified arsenic Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, was arrested connected October 25, 2025 and charged successful the U.S. District Court with battle with a unsafe limb with intent to origin bodily harm portion travelling connected an aircraft. He is expected to look successful national tribunal successful Boston astatine a aboriginal date.
As per the nonrecreational profile, Usiripalli is simply a pupil astatine Moody Bible Institute successful Chicago since 2022. Court filings revealed that Usiripalli, who entered the U.S. connected a pupil visa, has been pursuing a master’s grade successful biblical studies. He presently does not person lawful presumption successful the United States. A hunt of his societal media profiles besides revealed a YouTube transmission by the sanction ‘Palson Pranith’ with 2 subscribers and nary videos.
The incidental was reported connected Lufthansa Flight 431 soon aft repast service. Usiripalli allegedly attacked a 17-year-old lad seated beside him, stabbing him successful the enarthrosis with a metallic fork. He past reportedly lunged astatine different 17-year-old rider seated adjacent and stabbed him successful the backmost of the head, leaving the teen with a laceration.
As formation attendants and passengers tried to restrain him, Usiripalli allegedly mimed shooting himself by forming a weapon signifier with his fingers and pretending to propulsion the trigger. He past turned towards a pistillate rider and slapped her, earlier attempting to onslaught a subordinate of the compartment crew.
The disturbance led the pilots to divert the craft to Boston Logan International Airport, wherever Usiripalli was detained by instrumentality enforcement officers upon landing.
If convicted, Usiripalli faces up to 10 years successful prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a good of up to $250,000.
