A Virgin Atlantic passenger has been jailed for 15 months after threatening to gang-rape and set fire to an air hostess.
Salman Iftikhar, 37, was captured on video by a fellow passenger in the midst of the vile rant aimed at stewardess Angie Walsh on a flight heading to Lahore, Pakistan.
Before unleashing the violent outburst, Iftikhar had reportedly been heavily drinking on the eight-hour flight.
In a shocking video filmed in February 2023, Iftikhar accuses the hostess of racism, stating: "You called me a P**i in front of everybody."
Isleworth Crown Court heard that Iftikhar had been travelling with his wife and three children when the incident unfolded.
Prosecutor Abdul Kapadia said: "During the defendant's first meal service, the defendant was seen helping himself to ice, leaning over the bar he was drinking at, and taking ice with his hands.
"When told to stop, the defendant became irate, and started to film cabin crew with his phone, telling them: 'Do not tell me what to do you b***h.'
"When asked by the cabin crew to return to his seat, he then said: 'Don't tell me what to do you racist f***ing b***h. I know where you are from in Cardiff.'
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|Salman Iftikhar, 37, was captured on video by a fellow passenger in the midst of the vile rant aimed at stewardess Angie Walsh on a flight heading to Lahore, Pakistan.
Iftikhar was said to have erupted with rage upon hearing that the flight may be diverted to Turkey due to his behaviour.
The 37-year-old businessman said: "I don’t care. F**k it, go to Turkey. I have contacts."
Kapadia told the court: "His wife was ashamed. His three children were also on board and other crew members were called to assist, but the defendant continued shouting and swearing.
"He was slurring his words, with his voice raised."
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|Isleworth Crown Court heard that Iftikhar had been travelling with his wife and three children when the incident unfolded
The unruly passenger went on to tell the cabin crew that he would blow up the floor of the hotel where they would be staying.
Kapadia revealed that Iftikhar "knew the specific hotel, but also the hotel room numbers, and threatened the cabin crew with this".
Iftikhar went on to call Walsh a "white sheep sh**ging b***h" who would end up "dead".
The 37-year-old was arrested at his Buckinghamshire home in March 2024.
Speaking about how the incident impacted her, Walsh revealed that she had to take 14 months off work.
Walsh told the court: "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."
Iftikhar has six previous convictions for a variety of offences, including assault, drink-driving and possession of cannabis.
He was seen crying after being sentenced to 15 months in prison for threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment.
A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic said: "We're incredibly grateful to Angie and our cabin crew onboard who dealt with this distressing situation in a calm, courageous and professional manner."