'You Will Be Set on Fire!': UK Entrepreneur Blames 'Amnesia Blood Loss' For Drunken Tirade Mid-Flight

A British entrepreneur has been jailed for 15 months after a first‑class flight to Pakistan erupted into chaos when he drunkenly threatened to rape a flight attendant, blow up her hotel, and set her on fire.

Salman Iftikhar, 37, founder of recruitment firm Staffing Match, launched the tirade aboard a Virgin Atlantic service from London Heathrow to Lahore on 7 February 2023. His abuse, fuelled by champagne and rage, was so severe that one veteran crew member, Angie Walsh, who had flown into warzones—was left traumatised and unable to return to work for more than a year.

On Tuesday, the court sentenced Iftikhar to 15 months in prison, condemning his 'appalling and sustained abuse' of the crew. Virgin Atlantic has confirmed the airline has zero tolerance for threatening or abusive behaviour on its flights.

First‑Class Meltdown Turns Violent

According to court proceedings at Isleworth Crown Court, Iftikhar's behaviour spiralled during the initial meal service. Witnesses said he was drinking champagne at the aircraft's bar when he reached over the counter to grab ice with his hands.

When confronted by the crew, he accused them of racism, shouting at flight attendant Angie Walsh: 'Don't tell me what to do, you racist f**ing bitch. I know where you are from in Cardiff.' Another passenger filmed him accusing Walsh of calling him a racial slur.

The situation escalated rapidly. Iftikhar, travelling with his wife and three children, began recording the cabin crew and shouting: 'Do not tell me what to do, you bitch.' When the flight deck switched on the seatbelt sign, he accused the staff of targeting him.

Escalating the Chaos

Onboard staff revealed that during the tantrum, Iftikhar was slurring his words. He also grew aggressive and asked others if they knew who he was. Iftikhar's wife walked over to the food bar to have a word with the crew, but her husband shoved her aside. He then commanded her not to speak with them.

He grabbed male flight attendant Tommy Merchant and told him to shut up, attempting to get into a fight with him. Iftikhar challenged Merchant, saying, 'Do you know who I am? F–k off. You should know who I am. Come on, you heard me. Let's go right now.'

Iftikhar made the already chaotic situation worse when he threatened the flight crew with the specific room numbers they would be staying at in the Avari Lahore Hotel. He then grabbed one of the flight attendants, calling her a 'f–king white Welsh c–t,' before threatening to rape her.

'The white sheep s–ting bitch will be dead. The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear,' he shouted, according to the Mirror. 'You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang-raped and set on fire.'

'This Incident Has Broken Me'

Following the encounter, an anonymous flight attendant was left so profoundly affected that they were forced to take 14 months away from their job. 'I am a strong, brave, happy stewardess, and I loved my job. I am well known within the company,' the flight attendant read in a victim impact statement.

'I have been flying with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years. I was working when all flights were grounded on 9/11, and I've even flown into a warzone. But this incident has broken me.' She continued, 'Never in my entire career flying for 37 years have I been sure what to do. I have had the best career in the world for 37 years. But he has taken that away from me.'

According to his LinkedIn page, Iftikhar is the founder and director of the recruitment firm Staffing Match.

The 'Amnesia Blood Loss' Defence

When the flight landed in Pakistan, the aggressive passenger was allowed to leave without being arrested by the authorities. More than a year later, on 16 March 2024, he was apprehended at his $1.2 million (£0.75 million) home in Iver, England. Iftikhar pleaded guilty to making death threats and racially harassing the female flight attendant.

While he was found not guilty of assaulting and threatening to kill Merchant, his lawyer claimed the businessman's violent episode was a result of 'amnesia blood loss.'