Who Is Angie Walsh, Victim of Salman Iftikhar's 8-Hour In-Flight Meltdown? Veteran Flight Attendant Shares What She Endured

On a 2023 Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Lahore, veteran cabin crew member Angie Walsh endured eight hours of verbal abuse, racial threats and intimidation from a disruptive passenger, Salman Iftikhar. The incident left her traumatised and unable to work for over a year.

Walsh's ordeal became central to a criminal case that drew national attention and underscored the growing risks faced by airline staff, particularly on long-haul international routes.

Angie Walsh's Background in Aviation

Angie Walsh had worked as a flight attendant with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years. She began her career well before the post-9/11 overhaul of airline security and had experience serving on high-risk international routes, including flights into war zones, The Standard reported.

Colleagues regarded her as a calm, dependable presence on board. Within the company, Walsh was known for her professionalism and commitment to customer service over several decades of long-haul flying.

What Happened at 39,000 Feet

On 7 February 2023, while serving in first class on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Lahore, Angie Walsh was subjected to a barrage of abuse from passenger Salman Iftikhar. He drank champagne, helped himself to ice, and began filming crew members. According to The Daily Beast, he launched into a verbal tirade, calling Walsh a "racist f---ing b---h" and accusing her of making discriminatory remarks.

The attack escalated with threats of rape, arson and murder; Iftikhar even claimed he knew Walsh's hotel and room number and would burn it down. Other passengers, including his three children, heard the threats, and crew members raised concerns that the pilot might need to divert the aircraft to Turkey for everyone's safety.

Emotional and Professional Impact

Following the flight, Walsh was placed on trauma leave. In a victim impact statement shared during the court case, she described the abuse as 'the most devastating experience' of her career. She recalled feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, breaking down in the cockpit with no clear idea of what to do next.

Despite decades of dealing with difficult passengers and mid-air emergencies, she said nothing had prepared her for that level of sustained, targeted abuse at 39,000 feet.

Legal Case and Airline Response

Salman Iftikhar, a recruiter from Iver with previous convictions and a history of substance misuse, pleaded guilty to making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment. He was acquitted of assault charges relating to another crew member.

In August 2025, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Virgin Atlantic later issued a statement praising Walsh's resilience and reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards abusive behaviour on board.

Recovery and Industry Reflection

Walsh has since returned to work, though she continues to recover from the trauma. Her case prompted wider discussion around staff protections and in-flight safety. Airline unions and industry groups have renewed calls for stricter penalties for passengers who threaten or abuse crew members.

The incident also reflects growing concern within the aviation industry about managing in-flight behaviour. For Walsh, the ordeal marked a painful chapter in a long career, underscoring the emotional toll that abusive passengers can have even on the most experienced professionals.