Foreign national charged in midair fork attack on teens after Chicago departure

A man who did not have legal status in the United States was arrested Saturday after he allegedly assaulted two teenagers with a metal fork on a transatlantic flight.

Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, an Indian national, was taken into custody after a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, was diverted to Boston following the attack, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts.

Usiripalli, 28, allegedly stabbed a 17-year-old male passenger who was sleeping in the shoulder, near his left clavicle. He then allegedly lunged toward another 17-year-old who was sitting next to the first victim, striking him in the back of the head. He also resisted crew members.

“When flight crew members attempted to subdue Usiripalli, he allegedly raised his hand, formed a gun with his fingers, put it in his mouth and pulled an imaginary trigger,” the release said. “Immediately afterward, Usiripalli allegedly turned toward a female passenger to his left and slapped her with his hand. Usiripalli also allegedly attempted to slap a flight crew member.”

He is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. 

Usiripalli previously entered the U.S. on a student visa. He was “most recently enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies” but “does not have lawful status in the United States,” according to the release, which did not specify where he had been enrolled. 

The charge, which falls under the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.