A Lufthansa transatlantic service from Chicago to Frankfurt turned into a mid-air horror scene on October 25, 2025, when a 28-year-old Indian national allegedly attacked two teenagers with a metal fork. The incident occurred aboard Flight LH431, a Boeing 747-8 operating from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Frankfurt (FRA). Flightradar24 data show the aircraft departed ORD at 4:52 p.m. and diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where federal agents arrested the suspect.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI Boston, Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while travelling on an aircraft.
Court filings allege that after meal service, Usiripalli stabbed one 17-year-old in the shoulder while he was sleeping, then struck another 17-year-old seated beside him in the back of the head with the same fork. When the crew intervened, he allegedly made a finger-gun gesture, placed it in his mouth, and “pulled the trigger.” He also reportedly slapped a female passenger and attempted to strike a crew member.
The charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
The DOJ notes that he was pursuing a master’s degree in biblical studies in the U.S. and “presently does not have lawful status” in the country.
A LinkedIn profile under the same name lists a student enrolled at Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute in a biblical-studies program from 2022 to 2025, though this has not been independently verified by The Aviation Brief.
Lufthansa confirmed the incident in a statement to ABC7 Chicago, saying Flight LH431 — a Boeing 747-8 operating from Chicago O’Hare to Frankfurt was diverted to Boston on October 25 “due to the behavior of an unruly passenger,” who was taken into custody by local authorities upon landing.
The airline added that, the onward flight to Frankfurt did not continue as scheduled and it made every effort to ensure that all passengers were provided with hotel accommodations and were rebooked on the next available flights.
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