YouTuber crashes the plane – did he just stage it all?
Created: 2022-01-25Updated: 2022-01-25, 11:20 am
By: Omer Kayali
A YouTuber is said to have crashed with a comparable propeller plane - but the story is dubious.
(Iconic image) © Kevin Hackert/Imago
An already quite successful YouTuber took it to the extreme with his latest video, showing a plane crash.
However, his followers doubt the authenticity.
Whether Instagram, Twitch or YouTube: the number of followers and the clicks are the currency of the social media stars.
It's not uncommon for influencers to deliberately share scandalous and spectacular content, as that's how they get the most attention.
An example: two years ago, a Russian vlogger torched his 200,000 euro luxury car*.
From the vlogger's point of view, it was worth it, since the video has now been viewed more than 28 million times.
The US YouTuber and professional snowboarder Trevor Jacob now promised a similar success with his latest video entitled "I Crashed My Plane".
This allegedly shows how the engine of his propeller plane failed during the flight, forcing him to emergency exit with the parachute.
The video has now clocked up over 1.4 million and is Jacobs' sixth most successful.
However, the story is not credible, which is why several US aviation authorities are now investigating the incident.
YouTuber films plane crash: This is what the video shows
In the video, Jacobs can be seen circling the air above Los Padres National Forest, California, in a Taylorcraft BL64 fan gun.
It shows that suddenly the
engine fails and the propeller at the front of the plane stops turning
.
Shortly thereafter, Jacobs jumps out of the plane, with a parachute and the camera in his hand - of course he films everything in this predicament.
"I'm just glad to be alive," he says after crash-landing in the bushes.
Emergency exit with camera in hand.
© YouTube Screenshot/Trevor Jacob
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Trevor Jacobs plane crash: Experts doubt story
The 28-year-old has now blocked the comment function for the video after many YouTube users expressed their doubts there.
Several experienced pilots also state that it is
very
likely a staging
.
A
number of experts have had their say
at the
New York Times
, including Robert Perry.
He is a flight instructor who has flown over Los Padres National Forest and surrounding areas for nearly four decades.
"There were so many things that let me know that this was
some kind of staging
," says Perry.
He makes a few points:
One indication is that Jacob
was already carrying the parachute on his back during the flight
.
This is unusual for such a small aircraft, since the cockpit is very narrow anyway.
In addition, Perry explains that many small aircraft,
despite malfunctioning, can be safely landed from high altitudes
.
They then glide more or less gently to the ground at a speed of about 40 miles per hour.
"On the video, he was high enough that he could have glided 15 miles into a field or road to land normally," Perry explains.
The aviation lawyer Timothy Loranger is also quoted in the
New York Times
, who also recognizes some signs of staging.
Loranger wonders why the YouTuber
didn't contact air traffic control
.
Nor did he try
to restart the engine
.
"He didn't do anything that I don't think a new pilot with basic training would do," the attorney said.
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Jacob assures the authenticity of the video
Trevor Jacob then issued a statement in which he said: "I can safely say that I did not intentionally crash my plane to be seen on YouTube." The investigation by the aviation authorities is still ongoing.
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