A Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt was diverted to Boston after a man allegedly stabbed two teenage passengers with a metal fork during the meal service, according to federal authorities.

Lufthansa Flight Diverted After Passenger Allegedly Stabs Teens With Metal Fork

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, 28-year-old Indian national Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli was taken into custody after allegedly attacking two 17-year-old passengers aboard Lufthansa flight LH 431 on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from Chicago (ORD) to Frankfurt (FRA). The incident occurred following the inflight meal service.

Prosecutors said one of the teens was lightly sleeping in a middle seat when he awoke to see Usiripalli standing over him. Usiripalli allegedly struck the passenger in the left clavicle with a metal fork before turning to the other teen seated beside him and striking him in the back of the head. One passenger suffered a cut to the rear of his head. Lufthansa uses metal cutlery for its meal service in economy class (this is why we can’t have nice things…).

When flight attendants and other passengers attempted to intervene, Usiripalli allegedly made a gun gesture with his hand, put it in his mouth, and pretended to pull the trigger. He then allegedly struck a nearby female passenger and attempted to hit a member of the cabin crew.

Flight Diverted To Boston

The disturbance prompted the cockpit crew to divert the aircraft to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Law enforcement officers boarded the flight upon arrival and took Usiripalli into custody. Lufthansa confirmed the diversion, describing the incident as the result of “an unruly passenger.”

In a statement, Lufthansa said: “The diversion was necessitated by the behavior of an unruly passenger, who was taken into custody by local authorities upon arrival. Consequently, the onward flight to Frankfurt did not continue as scheduled. All passengers were provided with hotel accommodations and were rebooked on the next available flights.”

Criminal Charges Filed

Usiripalli has been charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while on an aircraft, a federal offense under the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that Usiripalli was in the United States on a student visa while pursuing a master’s degree in biblical studies. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

Rumor has it he had consumed half a cup of beer. (I jest…)

CONCLUSION

While the alleged attack was quickly contained, it underscores the unpredictable nature of passenger behavior at 35,000 feet. Lufthansa’s crew and fellow travelers acted decisively to restrain the suspect and ensure the safety of others onboard. Fortunately, the two teens sustained only minor injuries, but this incident serves as another reminder that even a simple item from the meal tray can become a weapon in the wrong hands. Thankfully, this story ended with a diversion rather than disaster. Hopefully, we will not see Lufthansa eliminate metal cutlery as a result…

Hat Tip: Philippe