A wealthy recruitment boss has been jailed for 15 months for hurling death threats and racist abuse at cabin crew after bingeing on champagne on an eight hour flight.
Salman Iftikhar, 37, was flying first class when he told Angie Walsh she would be dragged out of her hotel room, gang raped and set alight on the Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow to Lahore.
A passenger filmed one of Iftikhar's many rants as he repeatedly accused Ms Walsh of being a racist and says: “You called me a p*** in front of everybody.”
Iftikhar was flying with his wife and three children at the time of the incident on February 7 2023, Isleworth Crown Court heard.
“Mr Iftikhar was seen drinking champagne at the onboard bar, where he was talking to cabin crew,” prosecutor Abdul Kapadia said.
“During the defendant's first meal service, the defendant was seen helping himself to ice, leaning over bar he was drinking at, and taking ice with his hands.
“When told to stop, the defendant became irate, and started to film cabin crew with his phone, telling them: ‘Do not tell me what to do you b****.’
“When asked by the cabin crew to return to his seat, he then said: ‘Don't tell me what to do you racist f***ing b****. I know where you are from in Cardiff.’
“The pilot was then contacted, and turned the seat belt lights on. The defendant then shouted, and said: ‘Look at this b**** having the seat belt sign on when there was no turbulence. What the f*** is this b**** doing?’
“Iftikhar returned to his seat and called crew member Angie Walsh a 'f***ing b****.'”
Mr Kapadia said: “The defendant's behaviour became worse. The cabin crew discussed a diversion to Turkey.
“The defendant was informed of this possible diversion, to which he replied: 'I don't care. f*** it, go to Turkey. I have contacts.’
“The defendant then sat down, but his aggressive behaviour continued.
“His wife was ashamed. His three children were also on-board, and other crew members were called to assist, but the defendant continued shouting and swearing.
“'He was slurring his words, with his voice raised. He shouted at the cabin crew: 'Do you know who I am?'
“The defendant's wife went to the food bar and tried to talk to cabin crew, but the defendant pushed his wife away, and shouted at her not to talk to crew.
“A crew member stabilised the wife's arm to prevent her from falling when she was pushed.
“The defendant then got up, and threatened to fight the cabin crew. He grabbed one flight attendant, called Tommy Merchant, and told him to shut up and go away. He told Mr Merchant: 'Do you know who I am? F*** off. You should know who I am. Come on you heard me. Let's go right now.'
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“Staff tried to calm the defendant down. The defendant was asked if there was anything the cabin crew could do.
“But Mr Iftikhar leant forward and grabbed Ms Walsh's hand, squeezing it. Iftikhar called Ms Walsh a 'f***ing white Welsh c***.”
Mr Kapadia added: “The defendant also threatened to blow up the floor of the Avari Lahore Hotel, where the cabin crew were due to stay.
“The defendant knew the specific hotel, but also the hotel room numbers, and threatened the cabin crew with this. He told Ms Walsh: 'You will be dead on the floor of your hotel'.
“Iftikhar shouted at Ms Walsh and said: 'The white sheep sh**ing b**** will be dead. The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear.'
“He told Ms Walsh: 'You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang raped and set on fire'.
“The defendant said this while his three young children were crying and pleading for him to stop.”
The details of the hotel turned out to be correct, and Ms Walsh had to stay there overnight, and could not sleep, Mr Kapadia said.
Mr Kapadia said when the plane landed in Pakistan no action was taken against Iftikhar.
Iftikhar was finally arrested at his £900,000 detached home in Iver, Buckinghamshire, on March 16, 2024.
Ms Walsh sat in court accompanied by her sister, Claire Walsh, who is also a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant in their uniforms.
She told how she had to take 14 months off work in a victim impact statement read to the court.
She said: “I feel like what happened that day has change my life enormously. I can't quite believe that one passenger has had this much of an impact on my, my job, my career and my life. I am a strong brave, happy stewardess, and loved my job. I am well known within the company.
“I have been flying with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years. I was working when all flights were grounded on 9/11, and I've even flown into a warzone. But this incident has broken me.'
Iftikhar admitted making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment in relation to Ms Walsh.
He was cleared of assault by beating and threats to kill in relation to Mr Merchant.
Ben Walker-Nolan, defending, said Iftikhar was suffering from “amnesia blood loss”, which contributed to what happened.
Mr Walker-Nolan added: “Although there were over 100 incidents over the course of eight hours, the most serious, including threats to kill, were limited.
“The defendant has buried his head in the sand for a long period, and expressed regret. He has a long standing drug and alcohol problem which he has not addressed for many years. He is a successful businessman who employs a lot of people.”
Iftikhar has six previous convictions arising from 15 offences, including common assault in 2004 and drink driving in 2008.
He was fined £3,000 in 2021 after he was caught drink driving, as well as being under the influence of cannabis in his Rolls Royce in 2021.
Family members wept in the public gallery as the judge Ms Recorder Annabel Darlow KC said: “Your threats to kill were made in the presence of children, specifically your three young children.
“These were threats made with significant violence. Your children had to be comforted by cabin crew staff while you made those threats.
“Ms Walsh has given up a job which she has loved for 14 months, but thankfully has now returned to work.”
“This was a sustained incident which involved repeated racist abuse to Ms Walsh. You have a lengthy and appalling record of misconduct. You have not addressed the underlying cause of this for many years, that is your drug and alcohol problem.
“Given your lifestyle and your ability to earn money, your harm and risk has not moved. This was an appalling incident which has caused long lasting and devastating consequences.”
Iftikhar, who appeared in the dock wearing a grey suit with a pink shirt and yellow tie wept as he was jailed for 15 months. According to his LinkedIn profile he is the director and founder of recruitment firm Staffing Match.
