Trevor Jacob, a YouTuber and Olympic snowboarder, has agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge of obstruction. In his plea deal, Jacob admits to staging a plane crash in December 2021 “to gain online views.” He also admits to lying to authorities about what had happened.

Jacob gained public attention when he uploaded a video titled “I Crashed My Airplane,” in which he was seen flying a single-engine plane equipped with cameras both inside and out toward Mammoth Lakes. He claimed to have experienced an “engine out” before jumping out of the plane and opening a parachute. The plane crashed into the mountains below.

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Jacob’s video was later discovered to have been staged, and he was charged with obstruction. In his plea deal, Jacob admits to the charge and the false reporting of the incident

After Trevor Jacob uploaded his video of the alleged plane crash, some viewers questioned its authenticity, noting that he made little attempt to prevent the crash and appeared well-prepared with his parachute. Following a federal investigation, it was revealed that the crash was intentional, and that Jacob had filmed the video as part of a product sponsorship deal.

Jacob has now accepted a plea deal, admitting to obstructing a federal investigation by cleaning up the site of the crash. He is expected to make an initial court appearance in the coming weeks. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

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The case has drawn significant attention from the public and the media, as it highlights the risks associated with creating and distributing content online. Jacob’s actions have been widely criticized, with many arguing that they reflect a troubling trend of prioritizing online fame and views over safety and accountability.