Supermodel wife of recruitment boss who threatened to gang rape Virgin Atlantic stewardess defends husband: 'Behind every story there's pain'
Salman Iftikhar, 37, was flying in first class when he launched a vile tirade of abuse towards air staff on a flight from London Heathrow to Lahore, threatening to blow up the hotel they were staying in.
Wealthy passengers aboard the flight watched in horror as the recruitment boss repeatedly called steward Angie Walsh a 'f***ing b****' at 39,000ft. He later threatened to blow-up the five-star hotel the cabin crew were set to stay in.
The Daily Mail later revealed the father-of-three was a recruitment tycoon whose business went bust with £17million worth of debts - and had two wives, one in Pakistan and one living in Britain.
He was jailed for 15 months after he left Ms Walsh 'broken' and 'traumatised' after he declared she would be dragged out of her hotel room and assaulted.
Now one of his wives, supermodel and actress, Abeer Rizvi, 37, has taken to social media, seemingly in defence of her husband begging people to 'be kind' and 'be human'.
Writing the cryptic message on Instagram after videos of her husband's vile tirade went viral, she wrote: 'Mental health is not a joke. Behind every story there is pain you don't see.
'Before judging, try understanding. Be kind. Be human.'
At the time of his arrest, however, Iftikhar was living in his £2million house in Iver, Buckinghamshire with his other wife, who is the mother of his children, where they kept a range of expensive fast cars - from a Range Rover to a Royles Royce and a Bentley.
He lived in the £2million six-bedroom home with one of his wives Erum Salman, 38, and their three children, who watched in horror and tried to intervene during his in-flight drunken tirade.
Together the pair run a London-based staffing company that provides training to businesses working in customer service and manufacturing.
But according to those known to the couple the pair had a 'rocky marriage and would argue quite a bit' - with police being called on one instance.
Erum appears to have not made any public statement since her husband was convicted.
His other wife, back in Pakistan, is a famous actress who has more than half a million followers on TikTok, has shared loved up videos of the couple looking happier than ever, cuddled up together or attending film premiers together.
On Iftikhar's birthday earlier this year, the 37-year-old, who won Veet Supermodel of the Year in 2012, penned on Instagram: 'My beloved husband, on this day I want to honour you and your unique ways. …
'Disagreements may come and go but your love and understanding comes in abundance. I am truly grateful for being able to share this journey with you.'
The couple appear to enjoy an extravagant lifestyle, spending time on yachts, enjoying luxury holidays or driving around in expensive cars.
Indeed back in the UK with his other wife and mother of his children, Iftikar is seen showing off a similar glitzy lifestyle.
Pictures shared online show him posing in front of a royal blue Royles Royce kitted out with a white leather interior.
Other images show a Range Rover, Bentley and a Mercedes parked outside the home of the six-bedroom property.
However, in reality, the recruitment boss, despite being very wealthy, had a failed business venture that have left him millions of pounds in debt.
The business mogul previously owned an aviation recruitment business, however, it went into administration owing more than £11million to the HMRC and £6.885million to HUSBC.
The company, called Core Labour Supply Limited (CLSL), had a rapid rise and quickly started having a turnover of almost £90million in 2022.
It meant Iftikhar was able to continue enjoying his taste for the high life - paying himself dividends of almost £1million a year between 2018 and 2021.
But the business was badly affected by Covid and two of his biggest customers, which accounted for 35 per cent, left.
The company couldn't meet repayment terms with the HMRC, forcing them into administration.
He now owns a training company called Staffing Match which he has owned since September 2024 for his wife.
The London-based business provides training to businesses working in customer service and manufacturing.
The couple have a number of other small related businesses which do not have significant reserves or have made small losses. Despite this, Iftikhar still continued to live a luxurious lifestyle.
A neighbour of Mr Iftikhar - who asked not to be named - revealed to the Daily Mail: 'He's definitely very flash, someone who likes to flaunt his wealth.
'How he made his money is beyond me, he ran a recruitment consultancy but I didn't really tend to see him leave for work. He was around the house most of the time.
'He moved in with his wife in 2016. At that time they had two children but had another a few years later. I remember they threw a huge expensive first birthday party for their third child.
'The house has had a lot of work done. It had a brick frontage originally but Salman had it all rendered. He also had a big extension round the back.
'The property used to be open but he came along and surrounded it with big electric gates and an intercom system.
'He only ever really said hello or anything like that to me when he first moved in. After that he sort of fenced himself off and didn't really mingle with other neighbours much.
'One thing he did like was cars. He owned a Bentley and Range Rover but he'd also drive different cars on a temporary basis.
'I think he may have been part of a car club or something like that because he'd drive a variety of different vehicles. Usually expensive looking ones.
'He was driving around in a red sports car a few months ago. He'd go out early evening sometimes and come home about 10pm revving the engine and blaring music out of the speakers.
'It was really annoying and inconsiderate especially as people were trying to get to sleep. He thought he looked cool but he really didn't.
'I saw him a few times smoking weed on the front drive when I walked past his house towards the field.
'I gather he had issues with drugs and alcohol. I heard that at one point within the last few years he'd been banned from driving.
'His marriage had been rocky for a while, apparently, and he and his wife would argue quite a bit. The police were called to one incident last May. An officer knocked on several neighbour's doors asking if they'd heard any yelling.'
Another local said: 'He'd usually tear down this road in a Range Rover or some other powerful car.
'We've got a 20mph speed limit here but he was driving well above that.
'He was a bit of a poser when it came to cars and his house. He'd done a lot of the building work on his home around the time of Lockdown a few years back.
'I thought he was a bit arrogant as he'd have friends turning up at his place at all hours and when he first moved in and was having building work done he'd parked his cars on his neighbour's driveway opposite without asking.
'The neighbour mentioned it to him and he stopped doing it but didn't apologise or anything. I thought that was quite rude.'
This week he admitted making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment at Isleworth Crown Court and was jailed for 15 months.
Shocking footage shows Iftikhar repeatedly accusing Ms Walsh of being a racist and says: 'You called me a p*ki in front of everybody'.
Iftikhar's wife and children can be heard crying in the background, pleading for him to stop as they were comforted by horrified cabin crew staff.
Cabin crew were forced to discuss landing in Turkey due to his disruptive behaviour to which Iftikhar replied, 'I don't care. f*** it, go to Turkey. I have contacts'.
He went on to say he knew where Mrs Walsh lived in Cardiff before shouting 'the white sheep sh****** b**** will be dead. The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear'.
The court heard the incident had erupted when Iftikhar was told to stop picking up ice with his hands from the bucket at the bar he was drinking at.
'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.
'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-king bitch. 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****** 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."
'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****** 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****** 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.
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 changed 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.
'But I don't feel strong enough anymore. I was abused for eight hours and 15 mins. It has broken me. It was a very personal attack.
'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.
'There was one moment where I felt I could not cope. I went into the cockpit and had a meltdown. I said to the captain I don't know what to do.
'Even the threat of diverting the plane to Turkey or Baku, Azerbaijan, had no effect.
'I was traumatised by the threat of being gang raped.
'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.'
Iftikhar, of Iver, Buckinghamshire, 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 a 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.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson commented: 'The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and we take a zero-tolerance approach to any disruptive or abusive behaviour on board our aircraft.
'We will always work closely with the relevant authorities and will not hesitate to seek prosecution for those individuals that cause disruption onboard through unacceptable behaviour.'
'We're incredibly grateful to Angie and our cabin crew onboard who dealt with this distressing situation in a calm, courageous and professional manner. We are proud of Angie for her bravery in court and we will continue to offer her our full support.'
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