Trevor Jacob, a YouTuber and experienced pilot, posted a video titled “I Crashed My Airplane” in December 2021. The video shows Jacob jumping out of his plane mid-air with a camera in hand after the plane allegedly experienced engine failure. However, it has since been revealed that the crash was staged for a sponsorship deal and the video was fake.
Jacob has agreed to plead guilty to obstructing a federal investigation by destroying the evidence. He hiked to the crash site to retrieve the video from the onboard cameras before later cutting up the plane and disposing of its parts in trash bins. His pilot license has been revoked by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Jacob’s plea agreement was filed in the US District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, and he is expected to appear in court in the next few weeks. Obstructing a federal investigation carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
