US Youtuber Deliberately Causes Plane Crash for Views
Man Pleads Guilty to Deliberately Crashing Plane for YouTube Views
Trevor Jacob, a 23-year-old man from California, has pleaded guilty to charges of destroying and concealing evidence related to a plane crash that he caused in November 2020. According to the US California Attorney’s Office, Jacob deliberately crashed the plane as part of a product sponsorship deal and intended to parachute out mid-flight, all in an effort to record the incident and get more views on his YouTube channel.
Jacob took off alone from Santa Barbara Airport on a plane with a camera mounted on it, a parachute, and a selfie stick. The plane crashed in the Los Padres National Forest 35 minutes after takeoff, and Jacob was on the scene to take footage of the wreckage.
However, when the National Transportation Safety Board informed Jacob that he needed to remove the wreckage, he returned to the scene by helicopter and removed the debris, destroying the evidence in the process.
As a result of his actions, Jacob has pleaded guilty to destroying and concealing evidence in order to hinder a federal investigation. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
In addition, Jacob’s pilot’s license, which he used to release the footage of the crash on his YouTube channel in December 2020, was revoked last year.
The incident highlights the dangers of using social media to seek attention and views, as well as the potential legal consequences that can result from actions taken to gain those views. It serves as a reminder that irresponsible behavior can have serious and lasting consequences for both the individual and the wider community.
