Who is Angie Walsh? Flight attendant abused on London to Lahore flight

On a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Lahore in 2023, a senior air hostess, Angie Walsh, faced serious verbal abuse from a passenger named Salman Iftikhar. The abuse lasted for eight hours, leaving her mentally shaken and unable to work for over a year.

Who is Angie Walsh?

Angie Walsh worked as a flight attendant for 37 years with Virgin Atlantic. She had served on many risky international routes and was known by her team for being calm, professional, and helpful to passengers.

What Happened on the Plane?

On February 7, 2023, Angie was working in the first-class section when Salman Iftikhar started drinking heavily, recording the staff, and misbehaving. He shouted at Angie, called her racist names, and verbally threatened her. Even with her long experience, Angie said she had never faced this kind of abuse before — especially not during a flight.

Court Case and Jail Time

Salman Iftikhar, who had a criminal record, later admitted in court that he had made threats and used racially offensive language. He was jailed for 15 months in August 2025. Virgin Atlantic supported Angie and said they would never tolerate abusive behavior on flights.

What Happened After

Although Angie is back at work, she is still recovering from the emotional stress. Her case has led to new discussions about safety for airline workers. Experts and unions now want stronger punishments for passengers who abuse crew members.

This sad incident has shown how airline staff, no matter how experienced, can be deeply affected by rude and violent passengers.