Salman Iftikhar, a former British executive and founder of the recruitment firm Staffing Match, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after making ‘rape’ threats against Virgin Atlantic cabin crew during a flight from London to Lahore.
The incident occurred on February 7, 2023, while Iftikhar was flying first class with his three children.
According to multiple reports, Iftikhar consumed excessive alcohol on board and became aggressive after being asked to return to his seat.
He threatened flight attendant Angie Walsh of gangrape and bombing her hotel in Lahore. He also attempted to assault another crew member, Tommy Merchant.
Despite the incident, Iftikhar was not arrested upon landing in Pakistan. He was later apprehended at his home in Iver, England, on March 16, 2024, and appeared before Isleworth Crown Court, where he admitted to threatening to kill Walsh and racially harassing her. He denied harassment toward the second crew member.
In a victim impact statement, Walsh, a veteran flight attendant with 37 years of experience, described being left traumatised and unable to return to work for over a year.
Virgin Atlantic has publicly supported Walsh, stating that the safety and security of crew and passengers is their highest priority, and emphasising a zero-tolerance policy for abusive behaviour.
Following the sentencing on August 5, Iftikhar’s wife, Abeer Rizvi, a Pakistani influencer with over half a million followers on social media, defended her husband, attributing his actions to mental health issues, reports The New York Post report.
In a series of Instagram posts on August 7, she urged compassion, writing: “Mental health is not a joke. Behind every story, there’s pain you don’t see. Before judging, try understanding.”
Rizvi, who lives in Pakistan, is one of two women reported to be married to Iftikhar. The other wife, Erum Salman, resides in the UK, according to media sources.