A recruitment consultant who subjected cabin crew to hours of violent threats and abuse during a transatlantic flight has had his prison sentence substantially increased following a public appeal over the leniency of his original punishment.

Salman Iftikhar, 38, will now serve four years and three months behind bars, up from his original 15-month sentence, after the case was reviewed by the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.

The wealthy businessman’s initial sentence had sparked widespread public outcry and accusations of inconsistent sentencing, particularly when compared to other recent high-profile cases. The significant disparity prompted the Attorney General’s Office to intervene and refer the case for judicial review.

The In-Flight Incident

The disturbing episode unfolded on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow to Lahore, Pakistan, where Iftikhar launched an prolonged and vicious verbal assault on first-class cabin crew while heavily intoxicated on champagne at 39,000 feet.

Passengers throughout the aircraft witnessed Iftikhar unleash what would amount to approximately 100 separate abusive rants directed at flight attendants during the journey. His primary target was steward Angie Walsh, whom he repeatedly called a “f*ing b**” and subjected to increasingly menacing threats.

The threats escalated dramatically beyond verbal abuse. Iftikhar made explicit threats to gang rape Ms. Walsh, threatening that she would be dragged from her hotel room upon landing in Pakistan and sexually assaulted by multiple men. He also threatened to murder her and set her on fire, and warned that he would blow up the five-star hotel where the cabin crew were scheduled to stay.

Court proceedings at Isleworth Crown Court revealed the devastating psychological impact on Ms. Walsh, who was left “broken” and “traumatized” by the ordeal. The threats were so severe and specific that they caused genuine fear for her safety, particularly given that the incident was occurring on a flight to Pakistan where Iftikhar would be on familiar territory.

Video evidence presented in court captured multiple instances of Iftikhar’s relentless tirade. In one recording, he can be heard repeatedly and falsely accusing Ms. Walsh of racism, shouting: “You called me a p*ki in front of everybody.” These baseless accusations added a layer of racial aggravation to his already criminal behavior.

Beyond the verbal threats, Iftikhar also attempted to physically confront and fight another male steward during the flight, demonstrating that his aggression was not limited to verbal abuse alone.

A Family Nightmare

Perhaps most distressing was that this entire nightmare unfolded in front of Iftikhar’s own wife and three children, who were traveling with him. The children were reportedly crying throughout the ordeal and desperately pleading with their father to stop his abusive behavior.

In a deeply ironic twist, the same cabin crew members who were being terrorized by Iftikhar had to comfort and care for his distressed family members, showing remarkable professionalism while enduring his sustained abuse for the entire duration of the flight.

The incident represents one of the more severe cases of air rage in recent British aviation history, with the threats being particularly graphic and sustained over many hours.

Legal Proceedings and Sentence Review

Following the flight’s arrival, Iftikhar was arrested at his detached home in Iver, Buckinghamshire. He subsequently entered guilty pleas to charges of making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment.

However, when he was initially sentenced to just 15 months in prison, the decision triggered immediate public backlash. Critics pointed to apparent inconsistencies in the justice system, particularly after Lucy Connolly, who posted inflammatory tweets following the Southport riots, received a 31-month sentence for her online comments. Many questioned how someone who made direct, sustained, in-person threats of rape and murder could receive a lighter sentence than someone convicted of online incitement.

The widespread criticism and concerns about “two-tier justice” prompted the Attorney General’s Office to invoke the Unduly Lenient Scheme. This legal mechanism allows members of the public to request that Crown Court sentences be reviewed if they believe the punishment does not reflect the severity of the crime.

After careful consideration, the AGO determined that the original sentence was indeed unduly lenient and referred the case to the Court of Appeal. A panel of senior judges reviewed all the evidence, victim impact statements, and sentencing guidelines before concluding that a substantial increase was warranted.

Solicitor General Ellie Reeves commented on the successful appeal: “Salman Iftikhar made horrific threats of rape and violence against an air steward who was simply doing her job. His tirade of hate and abuse caused distress and anguish for the whole flight, and all of our thoughts today should be with the cabin crew and passengers who suffered from Iftikhar’s vile behaviour.”

She continued: “I hope this brings comfort and a sense of justice to those impacted, and underlines that our criminal justice system works for victims and vulnerable people.”

The revised sentence of four years and three months represents nearly a three-year increase from the original term, reflecting the true gravity of Iftikhar’s sustained campaign of threats and abuse.

Personal Background

Court records revealed details about Iftikhar’s business affairs and personal life. The 38-year-old ran a recruitment consultancy that subsequently collapsed, leaving behind approximately £17 million in debts.

Reports from August indicated that Iftikhar maintains marriages to two women. One wife is Erum Salman, 38, with whom he has three children. She has been listed as a director at several of her husband’s business ventures. His other wife is reported to be Abeer Rizvi, a Pakistani model and actress with a substantial social media following of over 500,000 on TikTok.

Broader Implications

The case has reignited important discussions about passenger behavior on commercial flights and the protection of aviation workers who face abuse while performing their safety-critical duties. Cabin crew unions have long called for stronger penalties for air rage incidents, arguing that flight attendants should be able to work without fear of violence or sexual threats.

The successful sentence appeal demonstrates that the Unduly Lenient Scheme can function as intended, allowing public scrutiny to correct sentences that fail to reflect the seriousness of crimes committed. It also sends a clear message that sustained threats of violence and sexual assault, particularly against workers simply doing their jobs, will be met with substantial prison time.

For the victims, particularly Ms. Walsh and the other crew members who endured hours of terror at 39,000 feet, the increased sentence may provide some measure of justice and validation of their trauma. The case serves as a stark reminder that air travel safety depends not only on technical factors but also on the basic human decency and lawful behavior of passengers.