'Put him on no-fly list': Influencer Sarthak Sachdeva faces backlash for faking a hand injury to get an Air India business class upgrade

He faked an injury and received an upgrade all the way to business class. But what began as an experiment for influencer Sarthak Sachdeva turned into an engaging incident for the viewers.

In the clip shared by the content creator online, he could be seen wearing a neck brace and arm sling to fake an injury before asking Air India staff for an upgrade to business class. The woman first checked with her seniors and then upgraded his ticket.

Following the upgrade, he received luxury seating and claimed to have received unlimited food. At the end of the now viral clip, Sachdeva claimed it was a social experiment.

A personal choice or a social gig, the act did not sit well with viewers who were shocked to see the upgrade happen without any questioning. Many social media users called the influencer a fraud and demanded action against him.

"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 was a social experiment. But fraud is fraud. If people start doing this and still get rewarded, many others will copy it. Airline staff may stop trusting real passengers who actually need help. Air India should charge him for the upgrade and make it clear this is not okay,” said a user on X.

“Bro, that’s not an experiment, that’s straight-up fraud. Air India should bill him for the difference and make an example out of this. If airlines start rewarding these stunts, genuine passengers with real injuries will suffer. Stop glorifying deception for views,” added another.

"Please put Sarthak Sachdeva on a no-fly list for good," said one.

Who is Sarthak Sachdeva?

Sarthak Sachdeva is one of those internet creators who built a fanbase simply by being loud, funny and completely unpredictable online. He became popular for his chaotic food experiments, random street interviews and viral Instagram reels that people either laugh at, cringe at, or immediately send to their friends. A lot of his content revolves around unusual food combinations, public reactions and relatable Gen Z-style humour that performs really well on social media. Over time, his easygoing camera presence and unfiltered personality helped him grow beyond just “food content,” turning him into a familiar face in India’s influencer and viral internet scene.