Passenger Charged with Assault After Fork Attack Diverts Lufthansa Flight
Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, an Indian national, is charged with assaulting two teens with a fork on a Lufthansa flight, diverting it to Boston. He is in ICE custody.
Flight diverted to Boston after passenger stabs 2 teens with fork
New York Daily News
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Overview
- Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, a 28-year-old Indian national, was charged with assault after allegedly stabbing two teens with a metal fork on Lufthansa flight 431 on October 25.
- The incident occurred on a flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, where Usiripalli reportedly used a metal fork, injuring one teen with a head laceration.
- Usiripalli also allegedly slapped a female passenger, attempted to strike a flight crew member, and mimed shooting himself with a finger gun when restrained.
- Due to the passenger's violent actions, the Lufthansa flight was diverted from its planned route and made an emergency landing at Boston Logan International Airport.
- Usiripalli, admitted to the U.S. on a student visa for biblical studies, no longer holds lawful immigration status and is now in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, focusing on factual reporting of the alleged incident and legal proceedings. They avoid loaded language or speculative commentary, presenting information directly from federal authorities and officials. The coverage prioritizes clarity and attribution, detailing the charges and the sequence of events without editorial embellishment.
"A man was charged with stabbing two teens on a flight from Chicago to Germany, according to federal authorities."
Chicago Sun-TimesArticles (7)
FAQ
One 17-year-old boy was stabbed in the shoulder or collarbone area, suffering a head laceration, and the other 17-year-old suffered a minor laceration to the back of the head caused by the metal fork.
The flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport due to the violent actions of the passenger attacking others on board, necessitating an emergency landing to manage the situation safely.
Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft, which carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.
Usiripalli is an Indian national who had entered the U.S. on a student visa to pursue a master's degree in biblical studies but no longer holds lawful immigration status and is currently in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
Lufthansa accommodated all passengers with hotel stays and rebooked them on the next available flights, as the flight to Frankfurt was canceled following the emergency diversion.
History
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4 articles