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Indian man in US federal custody after stabbing two teens on flight
The 28-year-old accused is in the United States on an expired student visa.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Tue, 28, Oct 2025
- 22:30 EDT
- 33
Representative image / Pexels
Indian national Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli has been arrested for allegedly stabbing two minor co-passengers on Lufthansa flight 431 en route from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany.
Arrested on Oct. 25, 28-year-old Usiripalli has been 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 attorney's office, the first victim, a 17-year-old male, woke up from sleep to find Usiripalli standing in-front of him with a metal fork in hand. Usiripalli allegedly stabbed the victim in the shoulder, before moving to the second victim, also a 17-year-old male, stabbing him in the back of the head with the same metal fork.
#FBI Boston has charged Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, an Indian national, with allegedly stabbing two minor victims with a metal fork while on board a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany. Learn more: https://t.co/PRVulpkuaQ pic.twitter.com/VDkyAqM0x1
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) October 28, 2025
When flight attendants attempted to intervene, he allegedly mimicked a gun with his hands and pretended to shoot himself in the mouth. He is also accused of slapping a co-passenger and attempting to slap a flight attendant.
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The flight was then diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where Usiripalli was immediately taken into custody.
He was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa, pursuing a master's degree in Biblical Studies. However, authorities noted that
Usiripalli is currently living in the country illegally.
He faces up to 10 years in prison, up to three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 and will appear in a Boston federal court at a later date.
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