Gaurav Kheterpal, founder and CEO of Vanshiv Technologies, has recounted a disturbing incident that occurred on a recent flight from San Francisco to Delhi. Kheterpal described how a fellow passenger, identified as a 25-year-old alumnus of IIT-Bombay working in a lucrative AI startup role with a reported salary of approximately $500,000, allegedly became excessively intoxicated during the 16-hour journey.
According to Kheterpal’s account, posted on X (formerly Twitter), the individual consumed 11 beers. When the flight crew declined to serve him further alcohol, he reportedly requested Kheterpal and his companions to pass along their drinks. Despite the crew’s refusal, the passenger’s drinking continued.
The situation escalated as the passenger eventually passed out and, as Kheterpal described, “wetted his pants.” The unpleasant odor necessitated that Kheterpal and his group relocate to different seats. Kheterpal expressed his dismay at the passenger’s lack of control and the embarrassment it caused, questioning how such a highly educated and well-compensated individual could behave in such a manner, reflecting poorly on Indians, especially as travelers.
Kheterpal’s post has gained significant attention online, garnering over half a million views and sparking a debate in the comments section. While some users criticized Kheterpal for providing alcohol to the passenger, others have questioned the authenticity of his story, with some alleging it was fabricated for engagement. Kheterpal, however, defended his claims regarding Bay Area AI startup salaries, stating that many engineers in that field command substantial compensation packages.
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)