Former Olympic snowboarder Trevor Jacob has pleaded guilty to charges of destruction and concealment in connection with a staged plane crash that was intended for social media attention. Jacob, now 30, filmed the dramatic incident over southern California in November 2021, where he purportedly experienced engine trouble, ejected from the aircraft and parachuted into Los Padres National Forest. The YouTube video, titled “I crashed my airplane,” garnered millions of views.
Following the incident, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated an investigation. Jacob was ordered to preserve the wreckage but claimed ignorance about the crash site. Later, on December 10, 2021, he and a friend flew by helicopter to the wreckage site, where Jacob secured the remains for removal.
In an attempt to obstruct the federal investigation, Jacob cut the plane into small pieces, which were subsequently dumped in trash bins in and around Lompoc City Airport. The FAA revoked Jacob’s pilot’s license in April 2022.
Jacob’s guilty plea involves one count of destruction and concealment. Prosecutors argue that his motivation was self-promotion and financial gain. The original video has since been removed from YouTube, raising concerns about the influence of social media-driven stunts and the potential risks associated with such behavior.
