Salman Iftikhar, a Pakistani-origin London businessman, has been sentenced to a 15-month prison term for threatening a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant with gang rape on a London-Lahore flight in 2023.
A video capturing Salman's outburst had gone viral on social media, in which he can be seen confronting the flight attendant for allegedly calling him "P*ki" in front of everyone.
He reportedly threatened the woman that she would be dragged out of her hotel room, gang-raped and set on fire.
The incident reportedly took place mid-air on a Virgin Atlantic flight on 7th February 2023, when Iftikhar was flying in first class with his wife and three children.
The argument between Iftikhar and crew members began when he was told not to take ice with his hands, while he was drinking champagne at the onboard bar. Angered by this, Iftikhar started recording cabin crew and hurled abuse at 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 fking bch. I know where you are from in Cardiff," he said, as quoted by prosecutor Abdul Kapadia.
The pilot was informed about the disturbance and activated the seatbelt signs to return passengers to their seats. "The accused's conduct deteriorated further. Flight attendants considered diverting to Turkey. When informed of this potential diversion, he responded: 'I don't care. F**k it, go to Turkey. I have contacts.' Though he sat down, his hostile demeanour persisted. His wife felt embarrassed. With his three children aboard, additional crew members were summoned for assistance, yet he kept yelling and using profanity," Kapadia informed the court.
"He spoke incoherently with a raised voice, demanding of the cabin crew: 'Do you know who I am?' When his wife approached the food service area to speak with staff, he shoved her aside, ordering her not to communicate with the crew. A flight attendant steadied his wife's arm to prevent her from falling after being pushed," the court heard.
Iftikhar also made threats against the Avari Lahore Hotel, where crew members were scheduled to stay. "You will be dead on the floor of your hotel," he warned the staff, then directed his attention to a flight attendant, saying: "You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang-raped and set on fire." His three young children were weeping and begging him to cease his behaviour.
The flight attendant testified that she required 14 months away from work due to trauma from the gang rape threat.
