Salman Iftikhar, a wealthy Pakistani-origin businessman based in London, has been sentenced to 15 months in jail after he threatened to gang-rape a Virgin Atlantic air hostess during a London-to-Lahore flight in 2023. The shocking incident unfolded on board an eight-hour flight when Iftikhar, 37, allegedly became aggressive and intoxicated after consuming champagne in the first-class cabin.
The outburst occurred during the meal service when Iftikhar, visibly drunk, reached over the bar and scooped ice with his bare hands. When the cabin crew intervened and asked him to return to his seat, he began verbally abusing them. Things escalated dramatically when Iftikhar singled out crew member Angie Walsh, hurling horrific threats and accusing her of racism.
‘You Will Be Dragged and Set on Fire’
According to court reports, Iftikhar accused Walsh of calling him a racial slur, saying, “You called me a Pki in front of everybody.”* He then threatened that she would be dragged out of her hotel room, gang-raped, and set alight. A fellow passenger captured part of the rant on video, in which Iftikhar is seen repeatedly accusing Walsh of racism and making vile threats.
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Who Is Salman Iftikhar?
As per a Daily Mail report, Salman Iftikhar is a businessman in the recruitment and staffing industry. He and his wife, Erum Salman, run a staffing company that provides training for businesses in the customer service and manufacturing sectors. The couple resides in a luxurious six-bedroom home in Iver, Buckinghamshire, valued at around USD 2.6 million. Iftikhar also owns several high-end cars, including a Range Rover, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce. The couple frequently shares photos of their opulent lifestyle on social media.
Angie Walsh, the crew member targeted by Iftikhar, shared a heart-wrenching victim impact statement. She revealed that the incident had left her so traumatised that she was forced to take 14 months off work. “I am a strong, brave, happy stewardess, and I loved my job. I’ve been flying with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years, I even flew on 9/11 and into war zones. But this broke me. Never in my entire career did I not know what to do, until that moment,” she said.