YouTuber Trevor Jacob Gets Pilot's License Revoked After FAA Rules He Intentionally Crashed A Plane For Views

YouTuber Trevor Jacob has had his pilot's license revoked after the FAA ruled that he intentionally crashed a plane for YouTube clicks late last year.

In December 2021, Jacob uploaded a video in which he flies over Los Padres National Forest in California when his aircraft's engine suddenly stalls out. In an apparent panic, Jacob jumps out of the plane with a parachute. The plane crashes into the side of the mountain and Jacob spends the remainder of the video looking for a way out of the forest.

The video was immediately deemed suspect by other aviation YouTubers and experts. Many aspects of the video seemed to suggest that Jacob acted intentionally reckless and that the plane crash was premeditated and orchestrated. For example, aviation experts noted that if an incident like the one presented in Jacob's video had occurred, an experienced pilot could have glided the plane to safety.

The fact that Jacob's propeller stalls also seemed odd, as experts noted that would only happen if Jacob pulled back the control and slowed the aircraft to intentionally create a dramatic effect.

The famous pilot, Trevor Jacob, has had his license revoked by the #FAA after it was discovered that he deliberately abandoned the plane in a video clip that spread recently on social media and allowed it to crash in Los Padres National Forest in Southern California.#aviation https://t.co/MxHGLRLtpN pic.twitter.com/2lEbBXlZxB

— Aviation Club (@aviationclub6) April 21, 2022

On April 11th, the FAA sent a letter, which was acquired by the New York Times, to Jacob ruling that he had indeed crashed his plane intentionally and that his pilot's license was revoked. In their ruling, they cited several other instances in the video which led them to conclude the crash was an orchestrated stunt.

"During this flight, you opened the left side pilot door before you claimed the engine had failed," they wrote. They also ruled Jacob "made no attempt to contact air traffic control on the emergency frequency, did not try to restart the engine by increasing airflow over the propeller and failed to look for a place to safely land, 'even though there were multiple areas within gliding range in which you could have made a safe landing.'"

"You demonstrated a lack of care, judgment and responsibility by choosing to jump out of an aircraft solely so you could record the footage of the crash," the letter continued. "Your egregious and intentional actions on these dates indicate that you presently lack the degree of care, judgment and responsibility required of a certificate holder."

Jacob faces upwards of a $1,600 daily fine for each day he does not turn in his pilot's license. Jacob has stated he cannot publicly comment on the ruling as per the advice of his attorney.