Staff Reporter, Daily Dawn, Dawn TV Report
London: Salman Iftikhar, a London businessman of Pakistani origin, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for making death threats and racially abusing cabin crew.
The incident took place in February 2023 during a flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to Lahore, Pakistan.
During the flight, Iftikhar, traveling in first class, threatened to drag her from her hotel room, gang-rape her and set her on fire. He claimed that the air hostess insulted him in front of others.
The incident began during a meal on the eight-hour flight. Iftikhar, 37, was drinking champagne at the in-flight bar when he reached the counter and scooped ice out of his hands. The flight crew said he was drunk and should return to his seat.
Iftikhar accused the crew of racism. He shouted that he had insulted him in front of everyone. ‘You called me Paki in front of everyone. I know where you are from in Cardiff.’
Airline crew said Iftikhar was using abusive language, being aggressive and boasting about his identity. His wife tried to intervene by speaking to the flight attendant at the food bar, but Iftikhar pushed her away and told her not to talk to him.
Iftikhar was allowed to leave the plane after landing in Pakistan without being arrested. He was later arrested at his home in England on March 16, 2024, a year after the incident. Iftikhar admitted to threatening to kill the flight attendant and racially abusing her.
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