Crime
Trans Member National Guard Pilot Jo Ellis Falsely Accused of Flying Black Hawk Helicopter
A transgender National Guard pilot has spoken out after being falsely accused on social media of piloting the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the fatal midair collision with a passenger jet near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, which claimed 67 lives.
Jo Ellis, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot for the Virginia Army National Guard, addressed the misinformation in a Facebook post on Friday, denouncing the baseless claims that had gained traction online.
The false allegations echoed unsubstantiated rhetoric from former President Donald Trump, who suggested diversity initiatives were to blame for the tragedy.
“Some craziness has happened on the internet, and Iโm being named as one of the pilots of the D.C. crash,” Ellis wrote. “Itโs insulting to the victims and families of those lost, and they deserve better than this BS from the bots and trolls of the internet.”
Ellis included screenshots of posts on X (formerly Twitter) that attempted to link her gender identity to the catastrophic crash.
One post speculated, โWouldnโt be surprised if the pilot was trans,โ while another falsely claimed Ellis had made โradicalized anti-Trump statementsโ on social media. The latter post was later deleted, and the account issued an apology.
Despite these corrections, Ellisโ name trended on X, accumulating over 19,400 mentions.
Even after she publicly refuted the claimsโincluding in a follow-up video titled “Proof of Life”โfar-right accounts continued to circulate misinformation and hate speech targeting her.
The National Guard has not commented on the allegations, and official investigations into the crash remain ongoing.
GLEN BURNIE, Md. โ Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting reported in Glen Burnie, Maryland, after an incident in which a suspect allegedly crashed a vehicle into a law enforcement agent.
Preliminary reports indicate that one suspect sustained a gunshot wound and was transported under a Priority B medical status.
Emergency medical services also responded to assist a law enforcement agent who reported neck pain; a second EMS unit was requested to provide additional medical evaluation and care.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting, including what prompted the vehicle collision and the use of force, have not yet been fully detailed by authorities.
Police have confirmed that the scene was secured, and standard investigative protocols for officer-involved shootings have been initiated.
No further information regarding the identities of those involved or the suspectโs condition has been released at this time.
Officials stated that additional details will be provided as the investigation continues.