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Trans Army Pilot Jo Ellis Falsely Accused Of Causing Deadly DC Crash. What She Really Deserves Is Gratitude For Her Service.

January 31, 2025

Black Hawk Helicopter

X accounts falsely identified Ellis as the pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter involved in Wednesday's crash in Washington. She deserves so much better.

Jo Ellis, a decorated trans Army pilot, is very much alive and well. How do we know this? She posted a Facebook video stating, “I am alive and well.”

The Virginia National Guard Black Hawk helicopter pilot turned to the social media site to refute the baseless and shameful misinformation falsely linking her to Wednesday’s deadly crash in Washington.

The tragedy, which claimed the lives of 67 people, occurred when an American Airlines flight from Kansas, carrying 64 passengers, collided with a military helicopter carrying three crew members.

After the crash, conservative X accounts falsely identified Ellis as the pilot of the helicopter. The posts, which spread rapidly, claimed, “The pilot of the Black Hawk has been identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) Jo Ellis, a transgender woman… Jo has been making radicalized anti-Trump statements on socials.”

In response to the misinformation, Ellis shared a post on her personal Facebook page, writing, “Some craziness has happened on the internet and I’m being named as one of the pilots of the DC crash. Please report any accounts or posts you see. It’s insulting to the victims and families of those lost and they deserve better than this BS from the bots and trolls of the internet.”

Related: Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Transgender People In The Military

She followed that up with a “proof of life” video that begins with her stating it’s “been an interesting morning.” We imagine that’s something of an understatement.

Ellis, who has served 15 years in the military, deployed to Iraq in 2011 and earned an Air Medal as a door gunner. After President Trump issued an executive order aimed at banning transgender troops, she shared a blog post about her career and experience as a trans service member.

In the post published Tuesday (January 28), Ellis recounted coming out to her unit in 2024 and receiving “overwhelming support.” She also highlighted her financial struggles, noting that she had personally covered all of her trans-related medical care, as the military did not provide coverage for such expenses.

“I’ve served in the same unit for 15 years. I want to serve at least 15 more. I love my state and I love my country,” she concluded.

Trump, meanwhile, drew criticism for immediately blaming the crash on DEI initiatives, backing up the claim without so much as the hint of a fact. When asked by a reporter how he could make such an accusation, he responded, “Because I have common sense.”

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