A man has been accused of stabbing two teenagers with a metal fork during a flight from the US to Germany.
Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, was on a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Frankfurt on Saturday when he allegedly attacked two 17-year-old passengers, Sky News’ US partner network NBC News reports, citing the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
One boy was asleep in a middle seat when he woke up to Usiripalli standing over him with the fork following a meal service, federal prosecutors said.
Usiripalli is accused of lunging at him and striking him in the left collarbone, before stabbing another teenager in the back of the head.
The second teenager suffered a laceration to the back of the head, officials said in a statement.
When crewmembers tried to stop Usiripalli, he is said to have formed a gun with his fingers, put it in his mouth and pulled the trigger.
He then slapped a female passenger and tried to slap a crewmember, prosecutors allege.
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The flight was diverted to Boston, where Usiripalli was arrested on arrival.
Usiripalli was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm.
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It is understood that Usiripalli is an Indian national who previously entered the US on a student visa.
He was enrolled in a master’s programme in biblical studies, but does not currently have lawful status in the US, prosecutors said.
