Gaurav Taneja, a popular Indian YouTuber and former AirAsia pilot, recently stated in an interview that he now earns more than the CEO of AirAsia, the airline that fired him in 2020. Taneja’s comments come just days after AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes posted a controversial photo of himself shirtless during a company meeting.
Pilot Turned Full-Time YouTuber
Taneja, better known by his YouTube pseudonym ‘Flying Beast’, was terminated by AirAsia in June 2020 after he publicly spoke out against alleged violations of safety regulations by the airline. At the time, Taneja claimed AirAsia was pushing pilots to do 98% of landings in ‘Flap 3’ mode, which saved fuel but compromised passenger safety.
Already an established YouTube personality while working as a pilot, Taneja fully transitioned into creating online video content during the pandemic. He now boasts a YouTube subscriber count of 8.6 million, plus millions more followers across platforms like Instagram and X.
Through his diverse content spanning family, fitness, and flying, Taneja has built a personal brand that allows him to profit through YouTube ad revenue, brand endorsements, and other business ventures. While not disclosing exact figures, he has been reported to have amassed substantial wealth from his influencer career.
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Earnings Claim Against Former Employer
During a recent podcast interview with host Raj Shamani, Taneja was repeatedly asked about his income from online content creation. Though initially hesitant, Taneja eventually claimed he now makes more money than the CEO of AirAsia, the airline that terminated his employment.
“The company that fired me – AirAsia – their CEO, I earn more than him now,” Taneja stated in Hindi during the interview. The bold claim comes just days after AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes posted a controversial photo of himself shirtless and getting a massage during a company meeting.
In addition to his main YouTube channel ‘Flying Beast’, Taneja also runs ‘FitMuscle TV’ focused on fitness and ‘Rasbhari Ke Papa’ highlighting his family life. Moreover, Taneja is currently pursuing a law degree from Delhi University.
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Controversial Yet Profitable Shift
While Taneja’s firing from AirAsia was contentious, his full shift into content creation has proved financially successful. His story highlights how social media influencers with big followings can leverage their personal brands into ample profit, sometimes even surpassing the companies that previously employed them.
Nonetheless, Taneja continues to advocate for aviation safety and regulations. Meanwhile, his diverse content and family life has won over millions of followers who fuel his lucrative online career.
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