Flight Diverted After Passenger Allegedly Attacks Teens with Fork

A Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt was forced to make an emergency landing in Boston on Saturday after a passenger allegedly attacked two teenage boys with a metal fork during the flight, federal prosecutors said.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, 28-year-old Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, an Indian national traveling on a student visa, was taken into custody at Boston Logan International Airport after the midair assault. He has been charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while on an aircraft, a federal offense that carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Midair Violence

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that the incident began shortly after meal service while passengers were resting.

“Following meal service, Minor A was sleeping lightly in a middle seat when he allegedly awoke to see Usiripalli standing over him,” prosecutors said in a press release. “It is alleged that Usiripalli used his right hand to strike Minor A in the left clavicle area with a metal fork.”

Officials said that Usiripalli then lunged toward a second 17-year-old, identified as Minor B, who was seated next to the first teen, and struck him in the back of the head. Minor B suffered a laceration to the rear of his head, while the first victim was treated for a stab wound to his shoulder.

Crew members and other passengers quickly intervened to restrain Usiripalli. During the struggle, prosecutors say he made a gun gesture with his hand, placed it in his mouth, and pretended to pull the trigger. Moments later, he allegedly turned toward a woman seated nearby and slapped her, before also attempting to strike a member of the flight crew.

Flight Diverted to Boston

Due to the escalating violence, the pilot declared an emergency and diverted the aircraft to Boston Logan International Airport, where law enforcement officers boarded the plane and arrested Usiripalli without further incident.

In a statement, Lufthansa confirmed the diversion, citing “the behavior of an unruly passenger.”

The flight diversion was necessitated by the behavior of an unruly passenger, who was taken into custody by local authorities upon arrival,” the airline said. “Consequently, the onward flight to Frankfurt did not continue as scheduled. All passengers were provided with hotel accommodations and were rebooked on the next available flights.

Investigation and Possible Motive

Authorities have not released a motive for the attack. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that Usiripalli was in the United States on a student visa while enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies. It remains unclear whether mental health issues or other factors played a role in the assault.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Field Office is handling the investigation. Usiripalli is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.

Neither of the teenage victims’ names have been made public due to their ages, but both were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to officials.

Rising Reports of Air Rage

The incident adds to a series of violent or disruptive passenger cases reported on commercial flights in recent years. The Federal Aviation Administration recorded thousands of “unruly passenger” reports annually during and after the pandemic, prompting airlines to adopt stricter enforcement policies and permanent no-fly bans.

While most incidents involve verbal outbursts or refusal to follow crew instructions, in-flight assaults involving weapons are far rarer. Prosecutors have emphasized the seriousness of such crimes, noting that any violent act aboard an aircraft falls under federal jurisdiction and carries enhanced penalties.

As investigators continue to piece together what led to the shocking midair attack, passengers aboard Lufthansa Flight 431 are being rebooked to their final destinations, while Usiripalli remains in federal custody awaiting trial.

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