Blogger Who Crashed Plane for YouTube Views Gets Six Months in U.S. Prison

The Central District Court of California has found a YouTuber guilty and sentenced him to six months in prison for deliberately orchestrating a plane crash to garner more views on the platform. Trevor Daniel Jacob, a 30-year-old, admitted to his wrongdoing in obstructing the federal investigation, initially providing false information about the wreckage's location and claiming engine failure as the cause of the crash, as reported by The Verge.

The video titled "I Crashed My Plane," documenting the crash and Jacob's parachute descent, was later uploaded to his YouTube channel on December 23, 2021. The video has garnered over 4.5 million views, with 46 thousand likes and 292 thousand dislikes.

After the crash, the pilot headed to the crash site to retrieve cameras and spent a challenging day searching for an exit from the desert. "I'm scared, I'm in trouble," he told his 100 thousand subscribers. However, the investigation revealed that things unfolded differently, and the streamer provided false testimony.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Jacob intentionally planned to parachute from his plane and capture the moment on video during a solo flight on November 24, 2021, supposedly heading to the Mammoth Lakes in California. Prior to takeoff, he installed several video cameras in the plane to document the alleged crash. These, along with the selfie stick camera Jacob held after ejection, were used to record the descent of the plane into the Los Padres National Forest.

During the investigation, the prosecution stated that Jacob "likely committed this crime to draw attention to himself on social media and in the news, as well as to gain financial gain," emphasizing the unacceptable nature of such behavior. The actions of the blogger could potentially have harmed air traffic, property, and safety, as well as caused damage to the national forest.

It's worth noting that the destruction and concealment of evidence with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation, coupled with false testimony, carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a possible fine of up to $250,000. The blogger's substantial cooperation with the investigation and assistance contributed to a significant reduction in his punishment.