CHICAGO (WLS) — A man has been charged with allegedly stabbing two teenage boys with a metal fork on a flight from Chicago to Germany on Saturday, the Department of Justice said.
The DOJ said the alleged stabbing happened after meal service on the Lufthansa flight.
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A 17-year-old boy was lightly sleeping in a middle seat when he allegedly awoke to see Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, a 28-year-old Indian national, standing over him, the DOJ said.
Usiripalli allegedly stabbed the boy in the shoulder area before lunging toward another 17-year-old boy, who was sitting in the middle seat of a center row, the DOJ said. Usiripalli then allegedly stabbed that teen in the back of the head.
When crew members tried to subdue Usiripalli, the DOJ said he allegedly formed a gun with his fingers, put it in his mouth and pulled an imaginary trigger.
The suspect then allegedly turned toward a female passenger and slapped her with his hand. Usiripalli also allegedly attempted to slap a flight crew member.
The DOJ said the flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where officials took Usiripalli, who was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa, into custody. The DOJ said the suspect does not currently have lawful status in the U.S.
Usiripalli is charged 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, the DOJ said.
If convicted, Usiripalli faces up to 10 years in prison. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
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