From freefall to jail cell: YouTuber Trevor Jacob trolled after plane crash plot to get views takes a nosedive into prison

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A California YouTuber who intentionally crashed a plane for video views as part of a sponsorship deal has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for “deliberately destroying” the wreckage, the Justice Department announced Monday, December 4.

Trevor Jacob, 30, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the destruction of aircraft wreckage with intent to damage or destroy evidence after he purposefully ditched his 1943 Taylorcraft BL-65 plane in November 2021 in the Los Padres National Forest near Lompoc, California.

Prosecutors said Jacob lied to investigators and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector in the aftermath about the circumstances surrounding the crash, which Jacob had filmed with multiple cameras mounted inside and outside the plane, according to NBC News.

Trevor Jacob staged the plane crash as part of sponsorship deal with wallet company

According to court documents, Jacob had prearranged for a recovery team to meet him after he parachuted out of the distressed aircraft with the intent that the plane would crash and be destroyed.

Jacob initially claimed to NTSB investigators that he had to conduct an emergency landing because the plane lost power and that he did not know the location of the wreckage.

However, prosecutors revealed that before takeoff Jacob had installed multiple cameras on the exterior of the aircraft to capture footage for a video and planned the staged emergency landing as part of a sponsorship deal with a wallet company.

Jacob did locate and retrieve the wreckage, later concealing parts of it on private property near Stockton, California.

He cut sections of the aircraft before discarding them in various dumpsters “for the purpose of impairing and obstructing the ongoing investigation,” the Justice Department said.

In a 13-minute YouTube video Jacob posted in December 2021 titled 'I Crashed My Airplane,' which attracted nearly 3 million views before being set to private, Jacob chronicled his final doomed flight and parachute jump from the plane.

Prosecutors stated he carried out the stunt crash intentionally “to gain some notoriety and increase his subscriber count on his YouTube channel.”

Federal Aviation Administration revoked Trevor Jacob’s pilot license

At his sentencing on Monday, US District Judge John F Walter told Jacob, “What you did was extremely dangerous to yourself and others in the air and on the ground...This cannot happen again.”

In addition to six months imprisonment, Jacob also received a year of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a special assessment fee of $100. Jacob expressed remorse in a statement after sentencing, thanking the judge and his legal team.

“I’ve learned more about myself than in my entire prior life combined. I have learned from my mistakes, and look forward to being a contributing member of society, and a mentor for youth,” Jacob said, adding he is “excited to continue my positive growth as a person” during his prison term.

The FAA revoked Jacob’s pilot license earlier this year. Federal prosecutors had recommended a 12-month prison sentence, arguing his actions demonstrated “exceptionally poor judgment” and risked greater damage beyond destroying an aircraft.

Internet shows no sympathy for Trevor Jacob in wake of prison sentence

Jacob’s sentencing unleashed a flood of reactions on social media, overwhelmingly critical of his attention-seeking stunt.

“The lengths people go to for views is ridiculous. We all saw the video, it was no accident. Perfectly staged to put on a show. Glad he’s being held responsible, the culture of attention craving is getting worse," one commenter on X wrote.

Another user remarked, “Maybe just don’t crash your plane intentionally, then you’ll be alright." While one user simply stated, "Yeah not a fan of being a danger to others for clicks."

Yet another comment read, "He deserves his sentence. He's a danger to society with such a stunt." Summing up much of the public sentiment, one user stated, "This type of stunt for likes and clicks is getting out of hand."