Transgender Pilot Jo Ellis Refutes False Black Hawk Crash Rumors
Jo Ellis, a transgender Black Hawk pilot with the Virginia Army National Guard, has spoken out against misinformation falsely linking her to the recent mid-air collision near Washington, D.C. The accident, which occurred on Wednesday night, involved an American Airlines regional flight and a military helicopter, claiming 67 lives.
The tragedy unfolded when American Eagle Flight 5342, en route from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a Black Hawk helicopter conducting a routine training mission. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Recovery efforts continued into Thursday, with more than 40 bodies retrieved, though many victims remained unidentified.
Despite no official release of the Black Hawk crew’s identities, social media falsely speculated that Ellis was among the victims. Addressing the rumors, Ellis took to Facebook on Friday morning to set the record straight.
“Some craziness has happened on the internet, and I’m being named as one of the pilots of the DC crash,” Ellis wrote. “Please report any accounts or posts you see. It’s insulting to the victims and families of those lost. They deserve better than this nonsense from internet bots and trolls.”
Ellis also posted a video titled “Proof of life and statement,” where she firmly denied any involvement. “This is Jo Ellis. I am a Black Hawk pilot with the Virginia Army National Guard. Some people have falsely linked me to the crash in D.C., but that is simply untrue,” she stated. “Trying to tie this tragedy to a political agenda is disrespectful to the families of the victims. They don’t deserve that, and neither do I.” She further clarified that the Department of Defense is responsible for notifying next of kin and confirmed that no personnel from the Virginia National Guard were involved.
The rumors about Ellis gained traction in part due to her past criticism of former President Donald Trump on social media. Trump, addressing the crash, questioned the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies on federal hiring, suggesting—without evidence—that relaxed air traffic control hiring standards under the Obama and Biden administrations may have played a role. His remarks intensified political discourse, though no official link between DEI initiatives and the crash has been established.
The Black Hawk involved in the incident was a Sikorsky H-60 from the U.S. Army’s 12th Aviation Battalion, stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The American Eagle flight, operated by PSA Airlines, was approaching Washington, D.C., from Wichita. A live stream camera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., captured the explosion resulting from the crash around 9 p.m. Wednesday.
As investigations continue, authorities have yet to confirm the identities of those aboard the helicopter. However, the false rumors surrounding Ellis have underscored the need for sensitivity and accuracy when discussing such tragedies, ensuring that the focus remains on the victims and their families.
