A Lufthansa flight en route from Chicago to Frankfurt was dramatically diverted to Boston Logan International Airport on October 25, 2025, after 28-year-old Indian national Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli allegedly stabbed two 17-year-old passengers with a metal fork and assaulted others mid-flight, prompting swift federal charges. Usiripalli, who entered the U.S. on a student visa and was formerly enrolled in a master's programme in biblical studies at an unspecified institution, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to cause bodily harm aboard an aircraft. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts announced the charges on October 27, emphasising the gravity of the incident in federal airspace, where such crimes carry severe penalties to deter threats to aviation safety.
According to court documents, the unprovoked attacks unfolded shortly after meal service on Lufthansa Flight LH431, a Boeing 747-8 carrying 363 passengers. One victim, a 17-year-old boy lightly dozing in a middle seat, awoke to find Usiripalli looming over him and lunging with the fork, striking his left shoulder near the clavicle. Usiripalli then turned to a second 17-year-old seated nearby, stabbing him in the back of the head and causing a laceration that required medical attention upon landing.
As flight attendants rushed to intervene and restrain the suspect, he reportedly formed a gun shape with his fingers, placed it in his mouth, and mimed pulling the trigger, escalating the chaos. He further slapped a female passenger beside him and attempted to strike a crew member before being subdued with zip ties and escorted to the rear of the aircraft. The diversion, requested by the captain citing an onboard emergency, landed safely at Logan around 7:00 PM local time, where FBI agents arrested Usiripalli without further incident. The teenagers received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, and no other passengers were harmed.
The episode highlights escalating concerns over in-flight violence, a trend amplified by post-pandemic stressors and aviation strains, including U.S. government shutdown-related delays in air traffic control staffing. Federal prosecutors noted Usiripalli's lack of lawful immigration status, which could lead to deportation proceedings alongside criminal penalties, including fines up to $250,000. Lufthansa confirmed the diversion in a statement, praising the crew's professionalism and cooperating fully with investigators while emphasising passenger safety protocols like reinforced cabin restraints and de-escalation training. This marks the latest in a series of mid-air disturbances; the FAA reported over 5,900 unruly passenger incidents in 2024 alone, often involving alcohol or mental health episodes, prompting calls for stricter pre-boarding screenings and international data-sharing on high-risk travellers.
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As Usiripalli awaits his initial court appearance in Boston federal court—scheduled for a date yet to be set—the case underscores the vulnerabilities of transatlantic travel and the rapid response capabilities of international carriers. Aviation experts urge enhanced mental health resources at airports, while victim advocates demand victim impact statements in sentencing. With the original flight resuming after a brief delay and passengers rebooked, the incident serves as a stark reminder that even routine journeys can turn perilous, fuelling debates on balancing security with civil liberties in an era of global mobility.
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