Who is Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli? Telugu student stabs 2 teens on Lufthansa flight from Chicago, slaps woman passenger

An Indian citizen was arrested for stabbing two teen boys with a metal fork on a Frankfurt-bound Lufthansa flight that took off from Chicago on Saturday. The accused was identified as Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli.

Who is Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli?

Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, is a master's student pursuing biblical studies. He currently does not have lawful status in the US and is set to appear in federal court soon.

He was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, according to the US Department of Justice

If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000.

The DoJ said one of the boys, 17, was sleeping in a middle seat when he allegedly woke up to see the accused standing over him. He allegedly stabbed the boy in the shoulder and then turned to another boy, 17, and stabbed him in the back of the head.

The crew members tried to subdue Usiripalli but then allegedly formed a gun with his fingers and pulled an imaginary trigger as he aimed into his mouth.

He then slapped a female passengers and tried to slap one of the flight crew members.

The flight was then diverted to Logan International Airport, Boston where officials took the man into custody.

"Lufthansa confirms that flight LH431 (Boeing 747-8, 363 passengers) operating from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Frankfurt am Main was diverted to Boston on Saturday, October 25, 2025, where it landed safely," the airline stated.

"The diversion was necessitated by the behavior of an unruly passenger, who was taken into custody by local authorities upon arrival. Consequently, the onward flight to Frankfurt did not continue as scheduled," he added.

World