Businessman Jailed for Abusing Flight Crew and Making Violent Threats During Virgin Atlantic Flight

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A British businessman has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after verbally abusing a flight attendant and making violent threats during a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Lahore. The incident occurred in first class and involved 37-year-old Salman Iftikhar, who became aggressive toward cabin crew after consuming alcohol on board.

According to court proceedings, Iftikhar, who was traveling with his wife and three children, became hostile when flight staff asked him not to take ice from the onboard bar with his bare hands. Prosecutor Abdul Kapadia told the court that when confronted, Iftikhar began swearing at the cabin crew, accusing them of racism, and proceeded to record them on his phone while shouting insults.

In one instance, Iftikhar told a female flight attendant, “Do not tell me what to do, you b***h,” and later escalated his threats by warning that she would be dragged from her hotel room, raped, and set on fire. He also threatened to blow up the floor of the hotel where the crew were scheduled to stay. These threats were reportedly made while his children were in distress, pleading with him to stop.

A video recorded by a fellow passenger captured part of the altercation, where Iftikhar can be heard claiming the flight attendant used a racial slur against him. “You called me a p**i in front of everybody,” he said, according to The Mirror.

Kapadia noted that Iftikhar’s speech was slurred and his behavior continued to deteriorate throughout the eight-hour flight. At one point, when his wife attempted to intervene, he reportedly pushed her aside and shouted at her not to speak to the crew. A crew member had to assist her to keep her from falling.

Despite the severity of the threats, no immediate action was taken when the flight landed in Pakistan. However, Iftikhar was later arrested at his home in the United Kingdom. The court considered the presence of his children and the distress caused to crew members in determining the sentence.

The judge presiding over the case underscored the seriousness of making violent threats on an international flight, particularly in a setting where airline personnel are responsible for passenger safety. The use of racial accusations, abusive language, and terror-related threats contributed to the decision to impose a custodial sentence.

This case highlights the risks airline staff face when dealing with intoxicated or aggressive passengers and reaffirms the zero-tolerance approach courts are taking toward in-flight misconduct.