Attempt to Create Viral Clickbait Backfires for Extreme Sports Figure

Youtuber and adrenaline chaser Trevor Jacob has had his private pilot certificate revoked, according to recent news reports. 

Reportedly, journalists contacted him to confirm a letter sent to him from the FAA earlier this month that demanded he surrender his PPL or face civil penalties. In his email contact with the soon-to-be former pilot, Times reporter Eduardo Medina describes Jacob as seemingly unaware of the letter, asking where they had learned of the rescission. While the letter remains private between Jacob and the FAA, and they refuse to confirm nor deny their move, it seems quite likely they acted, given the plethora of suspicious issues with the video. 

Jacob has remained relatively silent since his December stunt, which as of April 2022 has racked up 1.7 million views. It seems plausible that he has been told to keep a low profile after seeing the reception of his video entitled "I Crashed My Plane", as he didn't show much interest in capitalizing on any newfound momentum on his channel. On April 15, he published the first episode of his new "Trevor Jacob Adventured Podcast", sitting in front of a mic and staying relatively mum about his aerial misadventure. Seeing a stream of comments demanding he speak on the issue, he deferred to his attorney and stayed quiet. "The truth of that situation will come out with time, and I'll leave that at that," He said about halfway through the episode. (Aside from the brief mention of the issue, the rest of the show is 45 minutes of inane Instagram platitudes about following your passions, being a better person, facing fears, etc.) 

The story really seems to consist of one poorly thought outmaneuver after another, as if Jacob was on a mission to antagonize regulators at every turn. Last January, Santa Barbara Independent spoke to locals at the airport he flew out of to see what info could be gleaned from airfield gossip. According to them, Jacob recovered the aircraft's remains all on his own. They said that a few days after the crash, Jacob returned with cuts and bruises spinning impressive yarns of his brush with death, and seemed taken aback when told he was required to report the incident to the FAA. Surprisingly, they said that Jacob chartered a helicopter and removed the wreckage of his aircraft from the Los Padres National Forest to an unknown location.

The FAA's actions are unsurprising to almost anyone who saw the video, which was so rife with inconsistencies and absent of airmanship it will likely be used for decades to come as an enduring example of what not to do for aspiring PPL students learning the ins and outs of engine failure, reporting requirements, and cross country planning. 

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.youtube.com