A British business executive sentenced to 15 months in prison for making death and rape threats against a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant has received public support from his influencer wife, who attributes his behavior to mental health issues.
Salman Iftikhar, founder of recruitment firm Staffing Match, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on August 5 after admitting to threatening cabin crew member Angie Walsh during a February 7, 2023 flight from London to Lahore.
Wife’s Public Defense
Days after the sentencing, Iftikhar’s wife Abeer Rizvi took to social media to defend her husband. Rizvi, a Pakistani influencer with over 500,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, posted a series of messages on August 7 calling for compassion.
“Mental health is not a joke. Behind every story, there’s pain you don’t see,” Rizvi wrote. “Before judging, try understanding. Be kind. Be human.”
Iftikhar is married to both Rizvi, who lives in Pakistan, and another woman, Erum Salman, who resides in the UK.
The Incident
The violent outburst occurred while Iftikhar was traveling first class with his three children. Court records show he began drinking heavily during the flight and grabbed ice from the galley with his bare hands before crew asked him to return to his seat.
What followed was a sustained attack on flight attendant Angie Walsh. “Don’t tell me what to do,” Iftikhar shouted, before calling Walsh “racist” and claiming he knew her hometown of Cardiff.
The situation escalated when Iftikhar attempted to physically attack another crew member, Tommy Merchant, before turning back to Walsh with increasingly violent threats.
According to court testimony, Iftikhar identified the specific hotel where Walsh would be staying in Lahore, telling her she “will be dead” and adding: “The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear. You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang-raped and set on fire.”
Legal Consequences
Crew members eventually restrained Iftikhar and he disembarked in Pakistan without immediate arrest. British police later detained him at his Iver, England home on March 16, 2024 – more than a year after the incident.
At his court appearance, Iftikhar pleaded guilty to threatening to kill Walsh and racially harassing her, though he denied harassment charges related to Merchant.
Impact on Victim
Walsh provided a victim impact statement describing the lasting trauma from the incident. The 37-year veteran flight attendant was unable to work for 14 months following the threats.
“I am a strong, brave, happy stewardess, and loved my job,” Walsh told the court. “Never in my entire career flying for 37 years have I not been sure what to do. I have had the best career in the world for 37 years. But he has taken that away from me.”
Airline Response
Virgin Atlantic praised Walsh’s courage in testifying and reaffirmed their commitment to crew safety.
“The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority,” a company spokesperson said. “We will not hesitate to seek prosecution for those individuals who cause disruption on board through unacceptable behaviour.”
The case highlights ongoing concerns about passenger behavior on flights and the long-term impact of in-flight incidents on aviation workers.
