Social media influencer Sarthak Sachdeva has come under criticism online after videos surfaced showing him allegedly faking a hand injury in an attempt to secure a complimentary business class upgrade on an Air India flight. The incident has triggered wider discussions around influencer driven ‘social experiment’ content and misuse of passenger assistance systems.
Sachdeva arrived at the airport wearing a sling and neck brace before approaching airline staff during check in. He claimed to have an injured hand while requesting an upgrade from economy class. The video later showed airline staff discussing the request internally before moving him to business class.
The influencer subsequently uploaded content documenting the upgraded flight experience, including footage from the premium cabin and interactions onboard. In the video, the incident was described as a ‘social experiment’ aimed at testing whether appearing injured could result in preferential treatment during air travel.
Meet Instagram Influencer Sarthak 👏
– Bro pretended to have a hand injury at the airport, and at the ticket counter he used his fake injury to upgrade his normal ticket to business class. 😭 pic.twitter.com/WSovK0jskn
— Sumit (@beingsumit01) May 24, 2026
After the video began circulating online, several users criticised the stunt, arguing that it involved exploiting sympathy intended for passengers with genuine medical conditions. Social media reactions also raised concerns about the growing trend of creators using public services and customer support systems for engagement driven content.
Multiple users questioned whether such incidents could affect travellers who legitimately require assistance at airports or during flights. Others argued that airline staff may become more cautious in handling future medical requests if similar cases increase.
This is Sarthak Sachdeva.
He allegedly faked a hand injury, went to the Air India counter and asked if he could get a free upgrade to first class because of the injury.
Air India upgraded him all the way to Business Class. Premium seat, complimentary food.
Now he is saying it… pic.twitter.com/gw5bXZBu4u
— Nalini Unagar (@NalinisKitchen) May 25, 2026
The controversy also sparked debate around airline verification processes and discretionary upgrades. Some online reactions suggested that airlines may need stronger checks before granting upgrades or special accommodations linked to medical circumstances.
According to reports, the original video was later removed from the influencer’s social media platforms after backlash intensified online. At the time of reporting, there was no official public response from Air India regarding the incident.
The episode has further highlighted how viral content culture is increasingly intersecting with customer service interactions, with “social experiment” style videos continuing to generate debates around ethics, accountability and misuse of institutional goodwill for online engagement.
