Man stabbed two teens with metal fork on flight from Chicago to Germany, feds say

A 28-year-old man from India is facing a criminal charge after prosecutors say he stabbed two teenagers with a metal fork on board a flight from Chicago to Germany.

The flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport following the incident, where the man was arrested.

Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli is charged in federal court with one count 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. He was arrested on Saturday and will make an appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley said in a statement.

Usiripalli was on board a Lufthansa Airlines flight headed to Frankfurt, Germany from Chicago on Saturday.

Following meal service, a 17-year-old boy woke up to see Usiripalli standing over him, according to the statement. Prosecutors say Usiripalli then stabbed the boy, who was sitting in a middle seat, in the left shoulder with a metal fork. Usiripalli is then accused of lunging toward another 17-year-old boy and hitting him in the back of the head with the fork.

The boy sustained a cut to the back of his head, according to the statement.

When members of the flight crew attempted to subdue Usiripalli, he formed a gun with his fingers, put them in his mouth and pulled an imaginary trigger, according to the statement. Prosecutors say Usiripalli then slapped a female passenger and tried to slap a member of the flight crew.

The flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where Usiripalli was arrested.

Usiripalli was admitted to the U.S. on a student visa and enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies, according to the statement.

If convicted, Usiripalli would face up to 10 years in prison.