A year ago, the video of YouTuber Trevor Jacob went viral, in which he crashed his private plane. He now faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years, as he staged the incident deliberately to maximize his views.
How did the plane crash? In the YouTube video titled “I Crashed My Airplane,” Trevor Jacob can be seen cursing as he climbs out of the plane. Equipped with a selfie stick and parachute, he jumps out while the plane continues to fly uncontrollably.
By attaching cameras to the aircraft, the crash is filmed until the end. He also records his own stunt-worthy landing using various cameras, including the selfie stick. After Trevor Jacob reaches the ground, he continues to curse while trying to free himself from a bush.
When he encounters drivers, he claims that he had an engine failure and could not land. The credits of the video state: “Thanks to the farmers who rescued me.”
YouTuber probably wanted to increase his reach
Did Trevor Jacob report the incident? Not really. Although the reckless pilot reported the crash to the authorities two days later, he claimed not to know where the wreck was located. He allegedly hid the evidence, thus obstructing the investigation (via PC Gamer).
What happened to Trevor Jacob after that? After several investigations, he admitted everything and pleaded guilty. He is currently facing a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years due to charges of destruction and concealment.
A somewhat more harmless staging to generate a large reach can be seen here:
Why did Trevor Jacob equip everything with cameras? That’s a question everyone watching the video must be asking. Before the flight, he prepared everything because he never intended to end the flight in a normal way. According to PC Gamer, his intention was to use the video to boost his reach for a sponsorship.
Even in a Reddit thread on the topic, many users question the content of his video. His entire behavior seems odd and under the displayed circumstances, an emergency landing would have likely been possible. During his hike to the wreck, he states that he would always wear a parachute, which is not the case in his other flight videos, points out a user.
Is the video still online? Yes, the video is still online. And that has drawn criticism from several YouTube users in the comments. Many note that they became aware of it due to the headline. One user writes: “A pilot’s license is not just a privilege but also a symbol of responsibility in aviation.” Trevor Jacob’s license was revoked in early 2022.
Several users compare the accident to a GTA stunt. “Point of View: You are Trevor in GTA, in the midst of a delivery, press the wrong button and instead of dropping the package, it ends with you jumping out of the plane,” writes “Arthur Tipaldi.” “This man could have killed someone. He jumps out of the plane as if he were playing GTA,” points out “Karma.”
Challenges, pranks, and fake videos for clicks are always a thing. This action from a YouTuber also went wrong and ended in the hospital.
