Salman Iftikhar, 37, was jailed for 15 months after the horrific incident on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Lahore – and now one of his two wives has appeared to defend him online
One of the spouses of a wealthy businessman who made threats to gang rape a Virgin Atlantic air hostess during a flight has seemingly defended him on the internet, causing public indignation.
Disturbing video captured Salman Iftikhar, 37, issuing vile threats towards crew member Angie Walsh, even asserting she would be assaulted in her hotel post-landing. He intensified the situation by later threatening to detonate the five-star hotel where the cabin crew were set to stay.
Iftikhar received a 15-month prison sentence at Isleworth Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to charges that included making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment.
Now, one of his two wives has shared an enigmatic message that appears to back her shamed husband. Supermodel and actress Abeer Rizvi, 37, called for people to “be human” and show empathy for those suffering out of sight.
Rizvi told her Instagram audience: “Mental health is not a joke. Behind every story there is pain you don’t see. Before judging, try understanding. Be kind. Be human.”, reports the Express.
The Pakistani model and actress, who boasts over half a million online followers, frequently posts snapshots of her life with Iftikhar. Yet, Iftikhar actually resides in the UK with another partner, Erum Salman, 38, who is also the mother of his three children.
The family live in a £2million six-bedroom property in Buckinghamshire and operate a London-based recruitment firm that provides customer service and manufacturing training to businesses. Erum and their children watched the appalling incident develop during the eight-hour journey from London Heathrow to Lahore on February 7, 2023.
Virgin Atlantic passenger threatens stewardess
Prosecutor Abdul Kapadia explained to the court how Iftikhar consumed champagne at the aircraft’s bar before turning hostile towards staff. “When told to stop, the defendant became irate and started filming cabin crew with his phone, telling them: ‘Do not tell me what to do you b***h.’ When asked by the cabin crew to return to his seat, he then said: ‘Don’t tell me what to do you racist f***ing b***h. I know where you are from in Cardiff,'” Mr Kapadia said.
Iftikhar kept shouting abuse at Ms Walsh and made additional violent threats, prompting crew members to contemplate redirecting the aircraft. His wife was described as feeling “ashamed”, whilst their children watched in dismay.
The menacing behaviour continued – Iftikhar also declared he would detonate the floor of the crew’s accommodation. Despite his conduct, no measures were taken upon his arrival in Pakistan; he was only detained subsequently at his upmarket Buckinghamshire residence.
The judge remarked on Iftikhar’s “lengthy and appalling” criminal history, which featured six prior convictions including common assault. Prior to his imprisonment, Iftikhar lived an extravagant lifestyle, boasting a fleet of luxury motors including a Range Rover, Bentley and Rolls-Royce stationed outside his property.
Photographs capture him striking poses beside a Royal blue Rolls-Royce complete with pristine white leather seats.
A local resident branded him as “very flash”, remarking: “He’s definitely very flash, someone who likes to flaunt his wealth. How he made his money is beyond me… He owned a Bentley and Range Rover but also drove different expensive-looking cars.”
Another neighbour commented: “He’d usually tear down this road in a Range Rover or some other powerful car. He was a bit of a poser when it came to cars and his house.”
However, beneath the glossy exterior, Iftikhar’s commercial ventures weren’t always triumphant; a collapsed aviation recruitment enterprise landed him millions in the red, with debts exceeding £11million to HMRC and nearly £7million to HSBC when it collapsed into administration.