Lufthansa Flight Diverted to Boston After Stabbings

On Oct. 25, a Lufthansa Boeing 747 flight from Chicago to Frankfurt was diverted to Boston Logan after a passenger allegedly stabbed two 17-year-old passengers with a metal fork during the flight. The suspect, 28-year-old Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, allegedly stabbed one teen in the collarbone/left clavicle area and caused a laceration to the back of the other teen's head; prosecutors say one victim woke to find the suspect standing over him after meal service. Flight attendants attempted to restrain Usiripalli, who allegedly made a finger‑gun gesture, mimed pulling a trigger, slapped a female passenger and tried to strike a crew member before being subdued. The Boeing 747 made a U‑turn over the Canadian island of Newfoundland and diverted to Boston, where police arrested him on landing and Lufthansa said passengers were rebooked and given hotel accommodations. Usiripalli, an Indian national admitted to the U.S. on a student visa to pursue a master’s in biblical studies who reportedly no longer has lawful U.S. status, has been charged federally with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to cause bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft. He faces up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a possible $250,000 fine, and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.