When Virgin Atlantic Flight VS364 left London for Lahore on February 7, 2023, few could have predicted that the journey would end up in a British courtroom more than a year later — and ignite a debate about privilege, mental health, and the line between public sympathy and justice.
In the plush confines of first class, Salman Iftikhar — a former UK-based corporate executive and founder of the recruitment firm Staffing Match — was traveling with his three children. By the time the Airbus A350 approached Pakistani airspace, the flight had descended into chaos, with crew members reporting violent threats, racial abuse, and attempted assault.
The most chilling moment came when Iftikhar allegedly threatened Angie Walsh, a veteran flight attendant with 37 years in the skies, telling her she would be “gang raped” and that her hotel in Lahore would be bombed. Another crew member, Tommy Merchant, said he narrowly avoided being physically attacked.
“I’ve dealt with unruly passengers before, but nothing like this,” Walsh later told investigators. “It’s not just the threats — it’s the certainty with which they were delivered. I knew he meant to scare me.”
A Long Delay in Justice
Despite the severity of the incident, Iftikhar walked off the plane in Lahore a free man. Pakistani authorities did not detain him. That absence of immediate action remains unexplained; neither Pakistani law enforcement nor Virgin Atlantic has disclosed whether any formal complaint was lodged upon landing.
For more than a year, the case languished — until British police arrested Iftikhar at his home in Iver, Buckinghamshire on March 16, 2024. He faced charges of threatening to kill Walsh and racially harassing her, both serious offenses under UK law.
At his appearance before Isleworth Crown Court, Iftikhar admitted the threats against Walsh but denied harassing Merchant. On August 5, 2025, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
The Toll on the Crew
For Walsh, the fallout was personal and professional. In a victim impact statement read to the court, she revealed she had been unable to return to work for over a year due to trauma.
Virgin Atlantic issued an unambiguous statement in support of Walsh:
“The safety and security of our crew and customers is our top priority. We operate a zero-tolerance policy for abusive behavior and will always pursue legal action where necessary.”
Airlines globally have been grappling with an uptick in in-flight incidents involving alcohol-fueled aggression, a trend that surged after pandemic-era restrictions eased. Industry experts say these confrontations strain crew morale and can create lasting mental health consequences for staff.
A Social Media Defense
Two days after sentencing, the case took a turn that would ignite public debate far beyond legal circles.
Abeer Rizvi, a Pakistani fashion influencer with more than 500,000 Instagram followers and one of Iftikhar’s two reported wives, posted a series of Instagram Stories defending him.
“Mental health is not a joke,” she wrote. “Behind every story, there’s pain you don’t see. Before judging, try understanding.”
Rizvi did not dispute her husband’s behavior but framed it as a consequence of mental illness. Her message, tagged with heart emojis and soft pastel backgrounds, quickly spread across South Asian social media — generating both sympathy and outrage.
Critics accused Rizvi of using her platform to excuse criminal conduct, particularly given the gravity of the threats. Supporters countered that mental health stigma in South Asia is so severe that any public acknowledgment of it should be encouraged, even in difficult cases.
Two Wives, Two Countries
Adding another layer of intrigue, media reports revealed that Iftikhar has two wives: Rizvi, based in Pakistan, and Erum Salman, who resides in the UK. The dual arrangement, while not illegal under Pakistani law, complicates public perceptions of his personal life and has been fodder for online gossip.
Neither woman has commented publicly on the other, and it remains unclear how — or if — they communicate. Both have been reported to maintain separate households.
Privilege and Accountability
Iftikhar’s background is as much a part of this story as the incident itself. A British citizen of Pakistani origin, he built Staffing Match into a recognizable brand in the UK recruitment sector before exiting the business. His comfortable lifestyle, first-class travel, and multiple residences underscore the question of whether his privilege insulated him from immediate consequences in Lahore.
Aviation law experts note that jurisdictional gaps often emerge in cases involving mid-air crimes on international flights. While under the Tokyo Convention, the state of aircraft registration generally has jurisdiction, local authorities at the destination can also take action — though political and procedural hurdles sometimes intervene.
The Mental Health Argument
Rizvi’s public defense raises an uncomfortable but increasingly relevant question: how should courts weigh mental health in cases involving extreme threats and harassment?
Under UK law, mental health conditions can be a mitigating factor during sentencing if they substantially impair judgment. However, the Crown Prosecution Service maintains that such considerations must be balanced against the seriousness of the offense and the need for deterrence — particularly in cases involving public safety.
In Iftikhar’s sentencing, the judge acknowledged the defense’s references to mental health but concluded that the severity of his conduct and its impact on Walsh warranted prison time.
Public Reaction
In Pakistan, the case has become a lightning rod for discussions about gender, class, and accountability. While some social media users echoed Rizvi’s calls for compassion, many condemned both Iftikhar’s actions and the initial lack of accountability upon arrival in Lahore.
In the UK, the sentencing drew attention from labor unions representing flight attendants, who view it as a rare but important example of consequences for on-board abuse.
“Too often, crew are left to deal with violent or abusive passengers without seeing justice served,” said a spokesperson for the British Airline Pilots’ Association. “This case sends a message — but the delay in arresting Mr. Iftikhar also shows how much work remains to be done.”
The Broader Pattern
This is not an isolated incident. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported a 47% increase in unruly passenger incidents in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels. Alcohol consumption is a factor in roughly a third of these cases.
Several airlines have begun limiting alcohol service or requiring crew to report intoxicated passengers before boarding. Virgin Atlantic has not indicated any change in its alcohol service policies following the Iftikhar incident.
What Comes Next
Iftikhar’s 15-month sentence means he will serve roughly half that time before becoming eligible for release under UK law. It is not yet known whether he will face any further legal action in Pakistan or sanctions affecting his ability to travel.
For Walsh, the path forward remains uncertain. Friends say she has considered early retirement. For Rizvi, the social media fallout continues to test her brand’s durability.
And for the airline industry, the case underscores a growing reality: in an era where every passenger has a platform and every crew member is a potential frontline responder to violence, the battle for safety in the skies is as much about culture and accountability as it is about law.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a tighter, front-page WSJ-style headline for this that would grab both global and Pakistani readers immediately. Something along the lines of:
“From First Class to a Jail Cell: The Mid-Air Meltdown That Shook Virgin Atlantic — and Social Media”
When Virgin Atlantic Flight VS364 left London for Lahore on February 7, 2023, few could have predicted that the journey would end up in a British courtroom more than a year later — and ignite a debate about privilege, mental health, and the line between public sympathy and justice.
In the plush confines of first class, Salman Iftikhar — a former UK-based corporate executive and founder of the recruitment firm Staffing Match — was traveling with his three children. By the time the Airbus A350 approached Pakistani airspace, the flight had descended into chaos, with crew members reporting violent threats, racial abuse, and attempted assault.
The most chilling moment came when Iftikhar allegedly threatened Angie Walsh, a veteran flight attendant with 37 years in the skies, telling her she would be “gang raped” and that her hotel in Lahore would be bombed. Another crew member, Tommy Merchant, said he narrowly avoided being physically attacked.
“I’ve dealt with unruly passengers before, but nothing like this,” Walsh later told investigators. “It’s not just the threats — it’s the certainty with which they were delivered. I knew he meant to scare me.”
A Long Delay in Justice
Despite the severity of the incident, Iftikhar walked off the plane in Lahore a free man. Pakistani authorities did not detain him. That absence of immediate action remains unexplained; neither Pakistani law enforcement nor Virgin Atlantic has disclosed whether any formal complaint was lodged upon landing.
For more than a year, the case languished — until British police arrested Iftikhar at his home in Iver, Buckinghamshire on March 16, 2024. He faced charges of threatening to kill Walsh and racially harassing her, both serious offenses under UK law.
At his appearance before Isleworth Crown Court, Iftikhar admitted the threats against Walsh but denied harassing Merchant. On August 5, 2025, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
The Toll on the Crew
For Walsh, the fallout was personal and professional. In a victim impact statement read to the court, she revealed she had been unable to return to work for over a year due to trauma.
Virgin Atlantic issued an unambiguous statement in support of Walsh:
“The safety and security of our crew and customers is our top priority. We operate a zero-tolerance policy for abusive behavior and will always pursue legal action where necessary.”
Airlines globally have been grappling with an uptick in in-flight incidents involving alcohol-fueled aggression, a trend that surged after pandemic-era restrictions eased. Industry experts say these confrontations strain crew morale and can create lasting mental health consequences for staff.
A Social Media Defense
Two days after sentencing, the case took a turn that would ignite public debate far beyond legal circles.
Abeer Rizvi, a Pakistani fashion influencer with more than 500,000 Instagram followers and one of Iftikhar’s two reported wives, posted a series of Instagram Stories defending him.
“Mental health is not a joke,” she wrote. “Behind every story, there’s pain you don’t see. Before judging, try understanding.”
Rizvi did not dispute her husband’s behavior but framed it as a consequence of mental illness. Her message, tagged with heart emojis and soft pastel backgrounds, quickly spread across South Asian social media — generating both sympathy and outrage.
Critics accused Rizvi of using her platform to excuse criminal conduct, particularly given the gravity of the threats. Supporters countered that mental health stigma in South Asia is so severe that any public acknowledgment of it should be encouraged, even in difficult cases.
Two Wives, Two Countries
Adding another layer of intrigue, media reports revealed that Iftikhar has two wives: Rizvi, based in Pakistan, and Erum Salman, who resides in the UK. The dual arrangement, while not illegal under Pakistani law, complicates public perceptions of his personal life and has been fodder for online gossip.
Neither woman has commented publicly on the other, and it remains unclear how — or if — they communicate. Both have been reported to maintain separate households.
Privilege and Accountability
Iftikhar’s background is as much a part of this story as the incident itself. A British citizen of Pakistani origin, he built Staffing Match into a recognizable brand in the UK recruitment sector before exiting the business. His comfortable lifestyle, first-class travel, and multiple residences underscore the question of whether his privilege insulated him from immediate consequences in Lahore.
Aviation law experts note that jurisdictional gaps often emerge in cases involving mid-air crimes on international flights. While under the Tokyo Convention, the state of aircraft registration generally has jurisdiction, local authorities at the destination can also take action — though political and procedural hurdles sometimes intervene.
The Mental Health Argument
Rizvi’s public defense raises an uncomfortable but increasingly relevant question: how should courts weigh mental health in cases involving extreme threats and harassment?
Under UK law, mental health conditions can be a mitigating factor during sentencing if they substantially impair judgment. However, the Crown Prosecution Service maintains that such considerations must be balanced against the seriousness of the offense and the need for deterrence — particularly in cases involving public safety.
In Iftikhar’s sentencing, the judge acknowledged the defense’s references to mental health but concluded that the severity of his conduct and its impact on Walsh warranted prison time.
Public Reaction
In Pakistan, the case has become a lightning rod for discussions about gender, class, and accountability. While some social media users echoed Rizvi’s calls for compassion, many condemned both Iftikhar’s actions and the initial lack of accountability upon arrival in Lahore.
In the UK, the sentencing drew attention from labor unions representing flight attendants, who view it as a rare but important example of consequences for on-board abuse.
“Too often, crew are left to deal with violent or abusive passengers without seeing justice served,” said a spokesperson for the British Airline Pilots’ Association. “This case sends a message — but the delay in arresting Mr. Iftikhar also shows how much work remains to be done.”
The Broader Pattern
This is not an isolated incident. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported a 47% increase in unruly passenger incidents in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels. Alcohol consumption is a factor in roughly a third of these cases.
Several airlines have begun limiting alcohol service or requiring crew to report intoxicated passengers before boarding. Virgin Atlantic has not indicated any change in its alcohol service policies following the Iftikhar incident.
What Comes Next
Iftikhar’s 15-month sentence means he will serve roughly half that time before becoming eligible for release under UK law. It is not yet known whether he will face any further legal action in Pakistan or sanctions affecting his ability to travel.
For Walsh, the path forward remains uncertain. Friends say she has considered early retirement. For Rizvi, the social media fallout continues to test her brand’s durability.
And for the airline industry, the case underscores a growing reality: in an era where every passenger has a platform and every crew member is a potential frontline responder to violence, the battle for safety in the skies is as much about culture and accountability as it is about law.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a tighter, front-page WSJ-style headline for this that would grab both global and Pakistani readers immediately. Something along the lines of:
“From First Class to a Jail Cell: The Mid-Air Meltdown That Shook Virgin Atlantic — and Social Media”
