Overview
- A video posted by 19‑year‑old creator Sarthak Sachdeva in late May showed him wearing a neck brace and sling while asking an Air India counter agent for an upgrade and then describing the clip as a “social experiment.”
- The original post was deleted after it went viral across Instagram and X and triggered strong online backlash that labelled the stunt dishonest and called for punitive action against the influencer.
- Viewers urged Air India to bill Sachdeva for the upgrade or place him on a no‑fly list, arguing that staged claims of injury could make staff less likely to help passengers with real medical needs.
- Several observers and commentators questioned the clip’s authenticity, noting details such as access to premium areas that suggest the footage may have been staged or that the creator already held a higher‑class ticket.
- As of the latest reports, Sachdeva has not publicly replied through the outlets covering the story and Air India has not issued an official statement, leaving policy or disciplinary responses unresolved.