Overview

• Salman Iftikhar began serving his 15-month term after admitting to racially aggravated threats and violent language directed at a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant during a February 2023 flight.
• In Instagram messages, influencer Abeer Rizvi described her husband’s conduct as stemming from mental health struggles and urged public compassion and understanding.
• Flight attendant Angie Walsh said the episode left her traumatised and required a 14-month absence from work due to its lasting impact.
• Virgin Atlantic reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on disruptive behavior and called for stronger in-flight security protocols to safeguard crew and passengers.
• The case exposed cross-border enforcement gaps when authorities in Pakistan took no action on disembarkation and highlighted challenges in prosecuting disruptive passengers internationally.