A transgender Black Hawk pilot with the Virginia National Guard, Jo Ellis, was forced to release a “proof of life” video on Friday after being falsely accused by online conspiracy theorists of piloting the helicopter involved in the tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C. The accident, which took the lives of 67 people, marked the deadliest U.S. commercial aviation disaster in over a decade.
Instead of allowing authorities to properly investigate the cause of the collision, right-wing social media users and conspiracy theorists immediately seized upon the tragedy to launch a campaign of disinformation. Their target? A transgender soldier who had absolutely nothing to do with the incident.
The Misinformation Frenzy
Within hours of the crash, false claims about Ellis’s involvement spread like wildfire across social media, with more than 90,000 posts linking her to the tragedy. Conservative media outlets and high-profile figures, including former President Donald Trump, helped amplify these baseless accusations. The attacks were rooted in a broader effort to undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies within the military and federal agencies.
During a news conference on Thursday, Trump recklessly attributed the crash to DEI initiatives, asserting without any supporting evidence that the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) efforts to diversify hiring practices had resulted in a decrease in safety standards. He falsely asserted that DEI policies had “lowered standards” for air traffic controllers and military pilots, despite no official findings suggesting that these programs had anything to do with the accident.
Jo Ellis Speaks Out
The barrage of online attacks and misinformation forced Ellis to address the false allegations in a Facebook video on Friday. Looking directly into the camera, she stated:
“I understand some people have associated me with the crash in D.C., and that is false. It is insulting to the families to try to tie this to some sort of political agenda. They don’t deserve that. I don’t deserve this. And I hope that you all know that I am alive and well, and this should be sufficient for you all to end all the rumors.”
Her post quickly gained traction, with many urging social media platforms to take down the misleading content. A Virginia National Guard spokesperson also confirmed that Ellis was not involved in the crash and that “no Virginia National Guard personnel were on board the Black Hawk that collided with the jetliner.”
Who Is Jo Ellis?
Jo Ellis has served in the Virginia National Guard for 15 years as a Black Hawk pilot, deploying to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. She has received commendations for her service, including the Air Medal. In addition to her military career, Ellis works as an IT engineer in the private sector.
Ellis began her transition in 2023 and has been met with overwhelming support from her command and fellow soldiers. However, she has expressed concerns about the return of anti-trans military policies under a potential second Trump administration. Speaking on The Smerconish Podcast just a day before she was falsely linked to the DC crash, Ellis voiced her frustration:
“In a time when it’s hard enough to meet recruiting numbers in the military, why would you want to kick out more soldiers that are willing to sacrifice their lives for this country?”
Her words now feel almost prophetic. In an instant, she became the unwilling face of an internet-fueled smear campaign that sought to exploit a national tragedy to push an anti-LGBTQ+ agenda.
The Harm of Misinformation
The damage done by these false claims is not limited to Ellis. It is part of a broader pattern of harassment against transgender individuals, who are frequently blamed for societal ills and used as scapegoats in political culture wars.
This is far from the first time the far right has fabricated a connection between a tragedy and a transgender person. Last year, conspiracy theorists falsely accused a transgender woman of attempting to assassinate Trump. Before that, Representative Paul Gosar spread the baseless claim that a trans woman was responsible for the Uvalde school shooting. Each time, these lies fuel real-world violence and harassment against an already marginalized community.
DEI Scapegoating and Political Agendas
Trump’s willingness to pin the blame for the DC air disaster on DEI programs is as predictable as it is dangerous. His administration has already moved to dismantle DEI initiatives across federal agencies, and this latest push seeks to further erode protections for marginalized communities under the guise of “restoring meritocracy.”
But let’s be clear: there is zero evidence that diversity initiatives had anything to do with this crash. The investigators are still in the process of determining the exact cause, and hastily drawing conclusions, particularly with a political agenda in mind, would be disrespectful to the victims and their families.
As Ellis rightly pointed out in her video, “This is insulting to the families who lost loved ones.”
A Call for Accountability
Social media companies have an ethical responsibility to combat the spread of misinformation. False allegations like those against Jo Ellis have real-world consequences, not just for the individual targeted but for the broader transgender community.
For transgender individuals who have served in the military with honor and dedication, these baseless accusations are another painful reminder of how their existence is politicized. It’s not enough to simply debunk the misinformation after the fact. There must be accountability for those who knowingly spread harmful lies.
The Bottom Line
The tragic DC air collision should be a moment of national mourning, not a political weapon used to demonize transgender people. Jo Ellis, a dedicated service member, was thrust into the center of an ugly, baseless controversy simply because of who she is.
If this story teaches us anything, it’s that misinformation spreads faster than truth—and that transgender individuals are still some of the most vulnerable targets in today’s digital battleground.
It’s time for everyone, especially allies, to push back against these tactics. Because next time, it might not just be a false accusation—it could be someone’s life on the line.
