MARGATE, NJ – In a peculiar incident, beachcomber Matthew Jacob discovered a row of rusted metal seats on the Margate beach, leading to widespread online speculation. The find, initially shared on TikTok, quickly garnered 1.3 million likes, with Jacob suggesting they might be from a lost airliner.
Jacob, a local actor, recounted his initial confusion upon seeing the objects, which he first mistook for a tree branch. Closer inspection led him to believe they were airplane seats. The video’s viral status fueled various theories among viewers, including references to historical aircraft incidents.
@itsmatthewjacob ♬ original sound – Matthewjacob
However, Margate Police Chief Matthew Hankinson provided a more grounded explanation. He indicated the seats, stripped of any cushioning or seat belts, are unlikely remnants of a plane crash. Instead, Hankinson suggested they might be from an old railcar, historically dumped into the ocean to create artificial reefs.
A detective’s further research supported this theory, noting that decommissioned railcar seats are commonly used in artificial reef construction.
Recent storms could have dislodged the seats from an underwater reef, leading to their unexpected appearance on the Jersey Shore. The mystery of the metal seats, while sparking creative theories online, seems to have a more terrestrial origin.