Overview
- Authorities allege Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli stabbed two 17-year-old passengers with a metal fork shortly after meal service on Flight 431 from Chicago to Frankfurt.
- Prosecutors say one teen was struck in the left shoulder area and the other in the back of the head, after which the suspect mimed a self-inflicted gun gesture, slapped a woman, and attempted to hit a crew member.
- The aircraft diverted to Boston Logan International Airport where Usiripalli was arrested; he is charged federally with assault with a dangerous weapon aboard an aircraft and will appear in Boston federal court at a later date.
- Officials say Usiripalli previously held a U.S. student visa for biblical studies and currently lacks lawful immigration status, with agencies including FBI Boston involved in the investigation.
- A criminal complaint reported by Fox News says investigators recovered the fork from a galley trash bin and cites witnesses describing incoherent statements, while Lufthansa provided hotels and rebooked passengers after the diversion.