Pakistani businessman jailed in London for threatening Virgin Atlantic airhostess with gangrape: 'You called me a...'

Salman Iftikhar, a wealthy London businessman, has been jailed for 15 months for his 2023 outburst on a London-Lahore Virgin Atlantic flight, where he threatened an airhostess with gangrape, accusing her of being racist. "You called me a P*ki in front of everybody," Iftikhar told the airhostess adding that she would be dragged out of her hotel room, gangraped and set alight.

On February 7, 2023, Iftikhar was flying on the Virgin Atlantic flight in first class with his wife and three children. The argument started when Iftikhar was drinking at the onboard bar and taking ice with his hands. "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**ch. 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 b**ch. I know where you are from in Cardiff.'"

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. https://t.co/NDjJgByo9C pic.twitter.com/ajzkx68YrC

— CourtNewsUK (@CourtNewsUK) August 5, 2025

The pilot was informed about the altercation and he turned the seat belt lights on so that everyone went back to their seats. "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**k 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," Kapadia told the court.

"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 court was told.

Iftikhar also threatened to blow up the floor of the Avari Lahore Hotel, where the cabin crew were due to stay. "You will be dead on the floor of your hotel," he threatened the crew and then he turned towards the airhostess and said: "You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang raped and set on fire".

His three young children were crying and pleading for him to stop.

When the flight landed in Lahore, no action was taken against Iftikhar, but he was arrested on March 16, 2024, from his home in Iver, Buckinghamshire.

Iftikhar has six previous convictions arising from 15 offences, including common assault in 2004 and drink driving in 2008. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is the director and founder of the recruitment firm Staffing Match.

The air hostess told the court she had to take 14 months off work as she was traumatized by the threat of being gangraped.