MMA fighter Trevor Jacob faces 20 years in jail for intentionally crashing plane
Trevor Jacob, a 29-year-old professional mixed martial artist, has agreed to plead guilty to federal charge after intentionally crashing his plane for online views, according to the Department of Justice.
In a YouTube video published in December 2021, Jacob took off from Lompoc City Airport in California and claimed to be flying to Mammoth Lakes. He outfitted the small aircraft with various cameras to document the crash from all angles.
Jacob, a pilot and skydiver, agreed to plead guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation after it was determined that he lied about the engine’s failure and later tried to cover up wreckage. Jacob, who was wearing a parachute at the time of the crash, allegedly lied to investigators about the crash site location.
The Federal Aviation Administration ruled that Trevor Jacob had indeed endangered life or property with his reckless flight and crashed the plane solely to record it. His pilot’s license was revoked, and he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of “destruction and concealment”.
He now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is due back in court soon.
Jacob fought twice in 2022, losing both bouts by way of first-round submission.
