Indian man charged in federal case after stabbing two teens on flight

A 28-year-old Indian national has been charged in federal court after prosecutors say he stabbed two 17-year-old passengers with a metal fork aboard a transatlantic flight from Chicago to Germany, forcing the plane to divert to Boston on October 25. Federal authorities allege the incident occurred on Lufthansa Flight 431 shortly after takeoff from O’Hare International Airport and after the onboard meal service.

According to charging documents and statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, the defendant, identified as Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, stood over a sleeping 17-year-old seated in a middle seat and stabbed him in the left shoulder or collarbone area with a metal fork. Prosecutors say Usiripalli then lunged at a second 17-year-old and struck the back of his head with the same utensil, causing a laceration. Flight crew and other passengers intervened as Usiripalli became more aggressive, allegedly forming a gun shape with his fingers, placing it in his mouth and mimicking pulling a trigger. Prosecutors say he also slapped a female passenger and attempted to strike a member of the cabin crew before being restrained.

Pilots diverted the aircraft to Boston...