Former Olympic snowboarder Trevor Jacob sentenced to six months behind bars for staged plane crash video
In a shocking turn of events, YouTuber and former Olympic snowboarder Trevor Jacob has been sentenced to six months in jail for intentionally crashing his plane and destroying the wreckage as part of a staged video for views. The video, titled ‘I Crashed My Airplane,’ garnered over four million views on his YouTube channel.
The controversial video, uploaded in December 2021, showed Jacob purportedly escaping from a stalled plane using a parachute after a simulated engine failure. The footage then depicted the aircraft crashing in what appeared to be a perilous situation. However, suspicions arose as viewers questioned the authenticity of the crash due to the lack of attempts to safely land the plane.
Earlier this year, as part of a plea agreement, Jacob admitted to intentionally crashing the plane as part of a product sponsorship deal. He pleaded guilty to one felony count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation. While he could have faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, Jacob has been sentenced to six months behind bars.
Prosecutors argued that Jacob committed the offense to generate social media coverage and financial gain, emphasizing that such “daredevil” conduct cannot be tolerated. The sentencing memorandum stated, “[Jacob] most likely committed this offense to generate social media and news coverage for himself and to obtain financial gain.”
In the weeks following the staged crash, Jacob misled investigators about the wreckage’s location. He falsely claimed not to know the whereabouts of the wreckage, leading investigators on a false trail. Jacob’s actions were deemed unacceptable, and he now faces a six-month jail term for his intentional and deceptive conduct.
