Indian National Indicted in Boston for Mid-Flight Fork Attack on Lufthansa
A disturbing incident aboard a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt last month has led to the formal indictment of Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, a 28-year-old Indian national, in Boston. Usiripalli stands accused of allegedly stabbing two 17-year-old passengers with a metal fork, an act that forced the aircraft to make an emergency diversion to Boston Logan International Airport.
Allegations of Unlawful Status and Assault Charges
According to information released by the Justice Department, Usiripalli had initially entered the United States on a student visa. However, authorities confirmed that he no longer held lawful immigration status at the time of the alleged assault. On Thursday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against him, charging him with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while travelling on an aircraft.
Usiripalli has been detained since his arrest on October 27 and is awaiting arraignment in Boston at a later date, where he will officially respond to the charges.
Flight Incident Details and Escalation
Charging documents provide a grim account of the events that unfolded on October 25 aboard Lufthansa flight 431. Shortly after the meal service concluded, the alleged violence began. Prosecutors state that one of the victims, identified as "Minor A," was asleep in a middle seat when he awoke to find Usiripalli standing over him. Usiripalli then allegedly used his right hand to strike Minor A in the left clavicle area with a metal fork.
The aggression reportedly continued as Usiripalli then turned his attention to a second teenager, "Minor B," who was seated nearby. Prosecutors allege he "lunged toward Minor B" and struck him in the back of the head with the fork, resulting in a laceration to Minor B's head.
The situation further escalated when flight crew members attempted to intervene. Usiripalli allegedly responded by raising his hand, forming a gun gesture with his fingers, placing it in his mouth, and pulling an imaginary trigger. He then reportedly "turned toward a female passenger and slapped her with his hand" and attempted to slap a crew member. This dangerous behavior left pilots with no choice but to divert the aircraft to Boston, where law enforcement officers were waiting upon landing to take Usiripalli into custody.
Potential Penalties and Ongoing Prosecution
At the time of the offense, Usiripalli had been enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies, but his unlawful immigration status has been highlighted by federal prosecutors. If convicted on the charges, he faces severe legal repercussions, including a potential sentence of up to ten years in federal prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a substantial financial penalty of up to $250,000.
The case is being vigorously prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston, receiving vital support from multiple agencies including the FBI, Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection. It is crucial to remember that these details are based on allegations in the charging documents, and Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli is legally presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
