Credited from: NYTIMES
A Lufthansa flight traveling from Chicago to Frankfurt was forced to divert to Boston Logan International Airport on Saturday after an alleged incident involving an Indian man, Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, who is accused of stabbing two teenagers with a metal fork. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts reported that the altercation occurred approximately two hours into the flight, raising significant safety concerns among passengers, according to Indiatimes and ABC News.
During meal service, Usiripalli allegedly attacked Minor A, a 17-year-old boy, who was reportedly awakened to find Usiripalli standing over him, and subsequently struck him in the collarbone area. He then turned to Minor B, striking him in the back of the head, resulting in lacerations. Flight crew attempted to intervene but were met with erratic behavior from Usiripalli, who pretended to shoot himself and slapped a female passenger before allegedly trying to strike a crew member, as noted by The Hill and New York Times.
Usiripalli is currently facing a federal charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, with the potential for up to 10 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000 if convicted. He was reportedly in the U.S. on a student visa enrolled in a master's program, but does not hold legal status currently. His court appearance in Boston is anticipated soon, according to ABC News and The Hill.