Virgin Atlantic passenger threatened to gang rape air hostess and blow up hotel

Daily Mirror

5 days ago

Salman Iftikhar, 37, whose LinkedIn profile says he's the founder of Staffing Match recruitment, was jailed for carrying out a sickening campaign of threats and abuse
A wealthy recruitment boss wept in the dock as he was jailed for 15 months for hurling death threats at cabin crew after binging on champagne on an eight hour flight.
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Salman Iftikhar, 37, was flying first class when he told the air hostess she would be dragged out of her hotel room, gang raped and set alight on the Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow to Lahore.
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Another passenger, who took a short clip of one of Iftikhar's 100 rants, can be heard saying 'holy s--t' as Iftkhar repeatedly accuses the air hostess of being a racist and says: "You called me a p-ki in front of everybody." It comes after police shame British drugs mules by making them pose for photos with suitcases.
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Iftikhar was flying with his wife and three children at the time of the drama at 39,000ft 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," said prosecutor Abdul Kapadia. "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.
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"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 bitch. When asked by the cabin crew to return to his seat, he then said: 'Don't tell me what to do you racist f--king bitch. I know where you are from in Cardiff.'"
The pilot was then contacted, and turned the seat belt lights on, which Ifitkhar blamed on the stewardess again calling her a "f*****g b***h".
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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--k off. You should know who I am. Come on you heard me. Let's go right now. Staff tried to calm the defendant down. The defendant was asked if there was anything the cabin crew could do."
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But then, the court heard Iftikhar leaned forward and grabbed the woman's hand and squeezed it before calling her a "f*****g white Welsh c**t". 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 [the stewardess]: 'You will be dead on the floor of your hotel'.
'Iftikhar shouted at [her] and said: 'The white sheep sh*****g b***h will be dead. The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear. He told [her]: '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."
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The details of the hotel turned out to be correct, and [the victim] 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, but he was finally arrested at his £900,000 detached home in Iver, Bucks, on March 16, 2024.
The victim sat in court accompanied by her sister 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.
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She said: "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.
"I was doing everything in my power to protect passengers and the crew from him. I felt exposed and vulnerable, especially as we were 39,000 feet in the air. There was nowhere for me to go.
"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."
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Iftikhar, of Iver, Bucks, admitted making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment, in relation to the air hostess.
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.
Iftikhar has six previous convictions arising from 15 offences, including common assault in 2004 and drink driving in 2008.
Family members wept as the judge Ms Recorder Annabel Darlow KC jailed him for the "appalling incident".
According to his LinkedIn profile he is the director and founder of recruitment firm Staffing Match.