According to The Verge, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has requested former Olypmpic snowborder and now YouTuber Trevor Jacob to surrender his pilot license after he uploaded a video titled "I Crashed My Plane" depicting a crash that the FAA believes was made for clout.
What Happened in the Video?
The 13-minute video was posted on Dec. 4, 2021, and it already received over 1.88 million views at the time of writing.
Flying Magazine mentioned that Jacob was allegedly flying solo over the Los Padres National Forest north of Los Angeles on Nov. 24, 2021, his route from Santa Barbara County's Lompoc City Airport (KLPC) to Mammoth Lakes (KMMH) to go snowboarding.
According to Engadget, Jacob said that his 1940 Taylorcraft plane malfunctioned, forcing him to bail out and parachute to safety while the plane crashed into Southern California's Los Padres National Forest.
The FAA, however, told him in a letter dated April 11 that he had flown his plane in a "careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another," which is a violation of aviation regulations.
What Does the FAA's Letter Say?
The letter criticizes him for failing to properly restart the engine, call air traffic control for assistance, or explore for an alternative landing spot despite the fact that there were plenty of options available. Basically, as per The Verge, the letter implies he did not attempt to save the plane before jumping out.
The FAA, like several other members of the aviation community, expressed reservations about Jacob's actions during the event.
The regulator also appears to cast doubt on the engine breakdown, noting that Jacob appeared to open the door before the propeller began slowing down in the video. Flying Magazine points out that Jacob does not generally fly with a parachute, despite claiming to do so in the "I Crashed My Plane" video.
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What Happened on the Plane?
Referring to the report of Flying Magazine, Jacob supposedly retrieved the plane's debris a few days after reporting the accident to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, it was said that the NTSB does not investigate unscheduled off-airport landings of vintage light aircraft. On this occasion, however, the board made an exception.
What Is the FAA's Response to the Video 'I Crashed My Plane'?
The FAA formally accused Jacob of faking the entire incident and purposefully crashing his aircraft for online clout on Thursday, April 21. The FAA also promptly suspended his pilot's license.
Although the FAA can't prosecute someone for breaking a rule, if Jacob doesn't surrender his pilot's license, he might face "further legal enforcement action" and fines of up to $1,644 each day until he does, Engadget reported.
What Kind of Videos Does Jacob Post on His YouTube Channel?
Jacob is no stranger to the world of YouTube.
"Train Horn Prank. Arrested?" is a 2013 video on his channel," which has received approximately 7 million views.
He's also got a few videos of himself skydiving.
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