Latest news with #StaffingMatch
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Pakistani social media influencer defends husband who threatened to rape air hostess
The wife of Salman Iftikhar, the executive recently sentenced for threatening a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant, has come forward to defend her husband, attributing his actions to mental health struggles. Abeer Iftikhar, social media influencer from Pakistan.(Instagram-abeeriftekhar) Abeer Rizvi, a social media influencer based in Pakistan, shared her thoughts on Instagram days after Iftikhar was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his behaviour during a flight in 2023. 'Mental health is not a joke. Behind every story, there's pain you don't see,' Rizvi wrote on Instagram. 'Before judging, try understanding. Be kind. Be human,' she added. Iftikhar, the founder of recruitment firm Staffing Match, was travelling from London to Lahore with his wife and their three children when he became intoxicated and disruptive on February 7, 2023, reported The New York Post. During the flight's first meal service, Iftikhar allegedly drank champagne in front of his children and behaved in a disorderly manner, including reaching over the counter to take ice with his hands, which led cabin crew to ask him to return to his seat, the report added. When asked to comply, Iftikhar launched into a tirade against flight attendants, making racist and threatening remarks, and later identified the hotel where the lead flight attendant, Angie Walsh, was staying, issuing further threats. According to the Mirror, he said she 'will be dead,' and added, '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.' The report said that the officials managed to calm Iftikhar, and he was allowed to leave the flight in Pakistan without police involvement. Iftikhar was arrested at his home in England in March 2024. Following his arrest, his company, Staffing Match reportedly went bankrupt, owing $22.8 million. During his court hearing, Iftikhar admitted to making threats and racially harassing Walsh but denied harassment charges related to a physical altercation with a male flight attendant. Walsh testified that the incident left her traumatised and forced her to take 14 months off work. 'I am a strong, brave, happy stewardess, and loved my job,' she said in a victim impact statement. 'I have flown with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years and faced many challenges, but this incident broke me,' she added. Virgin Atlantic praised Walsh for her courage in speaking out. The New York Post quoted a spokesperson saying, 'The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive or abusive behaviour on board. We support Angie fully and commend her bravery.' Salman Iftikhar's wife, Abeer Rizvi, has not publicly commented on his jail sentence.
International Business Times
a day ago
- International Business Times
Who Is Abeer Rizvi? Supermodel Wife of Drunk Virgin Atlantic Passenger Who Threatened to Rape Flight Attendant Defends Husband for His Nasty Outburst
The supermodel wife of the disgraced executive, who was jailed for threatening to rape a flight attendant, defended him just days after the disturbing incident led to his sentencing. Abeer Rizvi implied her husband, Salman Iftikhar, was suffering from mental health problems. She believes that his mental health issues triggered his abusive outburst toward Virgin Atlantic flight attendant Angie Walsh during an eight-hour first-class flight in 2023. Iftikhar, founder of the recruitment company Staffing Match, is married to both Abeer Rizvi and Erum Salman, the Daily Mail reported. "Mental health is not a joke. Behind every story, there's pain you don't see," Rizvi wrote on her Instagram Story on Thursday. Defending Her Convicted Husband Abeer Rizvi Instagram "Before judging, try understanding," Rizvi said, adding, "Be kind. Be human." Rizvi lives in Pakistan, where she runs a beauty salon and regularly shares glamorous photos with her 500,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram. On February 7, 2023, Iftikhar was on a flight from London, England, to Lahore, Pakistan, accompanied by Erum Salman and their three children, when he got drunk and caused a disturbance during the journey. Salman Iftikhar seen shouting at flight attendant Angie Walsh and threatening to rape her X The 37-year-old father of three was drinking champagne in front of his children during the flight's first meal service when he suddenly reached over the counter and began grabbing ice with his bare hands, according to the Mirror. Flight attendants quickly intervened, telling Iftikhar to return to his seat. However, he turned aggressive and verbally abusive. "Don't tell me what to do, you racist f–king bitch. I know where you are from in Cardiff," he shouted during the flight, as reported by the outlet. Abeer Rizvi Instagram Iftikhar tried to physically confront male flight attendant Tommy Merchant before escalating the situation by horrifyingly revealing the hotel room where Walsh would be staying at the Avari Lahore Hotel. "The white sheep s–ing bitch will be dead. The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear," Iftikhar shouted, according to the Mirror. "You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang-raped and set on fire." Authorities managed to calm the irate executive and get him back to his seat, and Iftikhar was allowed to leave the flight in Pakistan without any involvement from law enforcement. Punished at Last Police in England arrested Iftikhar on March 16, 2024 at his $1.2 million home in Iver. The recruitment firm Staffing Match, co-managed by Iftikhar and Salmar, went bankrupt after amassing $22.8 million in debt in the wake of his arrest, according to the Daily Mail Abeer Rizvi X Iftikhar confessed to threatening to kill and racially harassing Walsh during the flight but denied any harassment charges related to his confrontation with Merchant. Iftikhar was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his outburst during a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday. Abeer Rizvi Instagram Walsh gave testimony at the hearing, saying that the incident left her deeply traumatized and compelled her to take a 14-month leave from work to recover. "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," she read in a victim impact statement. "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," she added.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
'Before Judging...': Wife Of Pakistani Man, Who Threatened To Rape Air Hostess, Defends Him
Last Updated: Salman Iftikhar was jailed for 15 months for threatening to rape Virgin Atlantic flight attendant. His supermodel wife, Abeer Rizvi, defended him, citing his mental health issues. Days after a Pakistan-origin man was jailed for issuing rape threats to a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant, his supermodel wife defended him on social media. Abeer Rizvi blamed her husband Salman Iftikhar's mental health issues for his abusive behaviour towards the Virgin Atlantic flight attendant during an eight-hour flight in 2023, according to a report in New York Post. Taking to Instagram, Rizvi wrote on Thursday, 'Mental health is not a joke. Behind every story, there's pain you don't see." 'Before judging, try understanding. Be kind. Be human," she further wrote. Iftikhar, the founder and director of Staffing Match, a UK-based recruitment company, is married to both Rizvi and Erum Salman, according to the Daily Mail. Rizvi resides in Pakistan, where she operates a salon and posts glitzy photos of herself on social media to her half-million followers on TikTok and Instagram. What Happened On Flight? A father of three and husband to two wives, Iftikhar was travelling in the first-class section on February 7, 2023 when he became enraged after being asked to stop taking ice from the onboard bar. Iftikhar, who had been consuming champagne as he travelled with his wife Erum Salman and their three children, verbally abused and threatened a flight attendent saying she would be dragged out of her hotel room, gang raped and set on fire. The entire incident was captured on camera by a co-passenger. The video showed Iftikhar accusing the flight attendant of being a racist. In the video, he was heard saying, 'You called me a Pa-i in front of everybody." When cabin crew asked him to return to his seat, Iftikhar replied, 'Don't tell me what to do you racist f—ing b–ch. I know where you are from in Cardiff." Iftikhar was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his outburst on Tuesday during a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court. The 37-year-old was arrested a year later after the incident, on March 16, 2024 at his home in Iver in England's Buckinghamshire. The victim, who was present in the court during the hearing, said: 'I am a strong, brave, happy stewardess, and loved my job… 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." About the Author Manisha Roy First Published:
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Who Is Salman Iftikhar, Pakistani Businessman Jailed For Threatening To Rape Flight Attendant
Salman Iftikhar is a Pakistani businessman based in London who made headlines in 2023 for his abusive behaviour towards a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant while flying first class from London Heathrow to Lahore in February. Iftikhar was recently sentenced to 15 months in jail. Who Is Salman Iftikhar? He is the director and founder of Staffing Match, a recruitment firm, his LinkedIn profile revealed. Media reports have claimed that he lives a luxurious life in London with a £2 million house and a fleet of expensive cars. Here's wealthy recruitment consultant Salman Iftikhar hurling death threats and racist abuse after champagne binge on an eight hour first class flight. His wife and three children were on the plane with him. — CourtNewsUK (@CourtNewsUK) August 5, 2025 The court heard that Iftikhar has six previous convictions arising from 15 offences, including common assault in 2004 and drink driving in 2008. According to a report by the Standard, he was also 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. Local reports suggest that he appeared in the dock wearing a grey suit with a pink shirt and yellow tie. He was weeping as he was jailed for 15 months. What Exactly Happened On Flight? Iftikhar was flying with his wife and three children when he told crew member Angie Walsh that she would be dragged out of her hotel room, gang raped and set alight. Iftikhar's outburst began after he was asked to stop taking ice with his bare hands at the in-flight bar, and he went on to accuse the crew of racism, shouting expletives, and making violent threats. The entire incident was captured by a co-passenger. The video showed Iftikhar accusing Ms Walsh of being a racist. He said, "You called me a Pa-i in front of everybody." On being asked to return to his seat, Iftikhar told cabin crew: "Don't tell me what to do you racist f---ing b--ch. I know where you are from in Cardiff." Isleworth Crown Court heard the case as Prosecutor Abdul Kapadia said Iftikhar's behaviour even forced the cabin crew to discuss diverting the plane to Turkey. However, the plane had landed in Pakistan. But he was not arrested immediately. He was arrested on March 16, 2024, at his home in Iver, Buckinghamshire. The Prosecutor said that his wife was "ashamed" and his three children "were also on board". Iftikhar was "slurring his words" as he got up from his seat and "grabbed Ms Walsh's hand" and called her a "f---ing white Welsh c---". "The defendant also threatened to blow up the floor of the Avari Lahore Hotel, where the cabin crew were due to stay," Kapadia added. During the altercation, Iftikhar shouted Walsh would be "dragged by [her] hair" and "gang raped and set on fire". He said that she would "be dead on the floor of [her] hotel" and added "the white sheep sh---ing b---h will be dead. The floor of [her] hotel will be blown up and it will disappear". Mental Trauma To Walsh Walsh was left traumatised and took 14 months off work to recover from the incident. 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, 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."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
First class passenger threatened air stewardess with gang rape
Credit: Central News A recruitment boss has been jailed for 15 months after a tirade of death threats and racist abuse at cabin crew on an eight-hour flight. Salman Iftikhar, 37, was flying first class from London Heathrow to Lahore on a Virgin Atlantic flight when he told crew member Angie Walsh that she would be dragged out of her hotel room, gang raped and set alight. Another passenger took a video of Iftikhar as he accused Ms Walsh of being a racist and said: 'You called me a P--i in front of everybody.' Iftikhar, whose LinkedIn profile says he is the director and founder of Staffing Match, a recruitment firm, was flying with his wife and three children at the time of the incident on February 7 2023, Isleworth Crown Court heard. Prosecutor Abdul Kapadia said Iftikhar was drinking champagne at the onboard bar and leant over to get his own ice. When he was told to return to his seat, he told cabin crew: 'Don't tell me what to do you racist f---ing b--ch. I know where you are from in Cardiff.' Iftikhar returned to his seat and called Ms Walsh a 'f---ing b--ch'. Mr Kapadia said Iftikhar's behaviour worsened to the point where cabin crew discussed diverting the plane to Turkey. He said: '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 described as 'slurring his words' as he got up from his seat and 'grabbed Ms Walsh's hand' and called her a 'f---ing white Welsh c---', continuing his tirade despite his children 'crying and pleading for him to stop'. 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.' Iftikhar shouted that Ms Walsh would be 'dragged by [her] hair' and 'gang raped and set on fire'. He also said she would 'be dead on the floor of [her] hotel' and added 'the white sheep sh---ing b---h will be dead. The floor of [her] hotel will be blown up and it will disappear'. Mr Kapadia said when the plane landed in Pakistan no action was taken against Iftikhar, but he was arrested at his home in Iver, Buckinghamshire, on March 16 last year. Ms Walsh, who had been flying with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years, said she had to take 14 months off work as she was 'traumatised by the threat of being gang raped'. She said: 'I was working when all flights were grounded on 9/11, and I've even flown into a war zone. 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 another flight attendant, Mr Merchant. Ben Walker-Nolan, defending, said: 'Although there were over 100 incidents over the course of eight hours, the most serious, including threats to kill, were limited. He has a long-standing drug and alcohol problem, which he has not addressed for many years.' Iftikhar has six previous convictions arising from 15 offences, including common assault in 2004 and drink driving in 2008, the court heard. The judge, Ms Recorder Annabel Darlow KC, said: 'Your threats to kill were made in the presence of children, specifically your three young children. This was an appalling incident which has caused long lasting and devastating consequences.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
