New Delhi (Desk) | August 9, 2025 - Former British businessman Salman Iftikhar has been jailed for threatening to kill and rape a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant. His wife, Pakistani influencer Abeer Rizvi, has defended him, saying his actions were linked to mental health struggles.

On August 7, Rizvi posted messages on Instagram asking people to show compassion. “Mental health is not a joke. Behind every story, there’s pain you don’t see. Before judging, try understanding. Be kind. Be human,” she wrote, according to The New York Post. Rizvi, who lives in Pakistan, has more than 500,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok.

Iftikhar, founder of the UK recruitment firm Staffing Match, is married to Rizvi and another woman, Erum Salman, who lives in the UK.

The incident happened on February 7, 2023, during a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Lahore. Iftikhar was flying first class with his three children. According to The Mirror, he drank heavily, grabbed ice with his bare hands from the galley, and was told to return to his seat. He became angry, shouting at cabin crew member Angie Walsh, calling her “racist” and saying he knew where she was from in Cardiff.

He also tried to attack male crew member Tommy Merchant, then turned to Walsh with serious threats. He said she “will be dead,” warned that “the floor of your hotel will be blown up,” and added, “You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang-raped and set on fire.” He even named her hotel in Lahore.

Crew members restrained him, and he left the plane in Pakistan without arrest. British police later arrested him at his home in Iver, England, on March 16, 2024.

At Isleworth Crown Court on August 5, Iftikhar admitted threatening to kill Walsh and racially harassing her. He denied harassing Merchant. The court sentenced him to 15 months in prison.

Walsh said she was traumatised and unable to work for 14 months. “Never in my entire 37-year career have I not known what to do. He has taken that away from me,” she said.

Virgin Atlantic praised Walsh’s courage and said the safety of crew and passengers was their top priority, adding they would seek prosecution for unacceptable behaviour on board.