Trans Pilot Jo Ellis Refutes False Claims Linking Her to D.C. Crash

Jo Ellis, a transgender Black Hawk pilot with the Virginia National Guard, has publicly refuted false claims tying her to a deadly helicopter collision near Washington, D.C., that resulted in 67 fatalities. In a Facebook video, she expressed her outrage over the misinformation being spread by internet trolls and condemned the attempts to politicize the tragedy, stating, "It is insulting to the families to try to tie this to some sort of political agenda." The rumors were amplified by Grok, an AI tool on Elon Musk's X platform, and have been reported by various news outlets despite being false. Ellis clarified that there were no Virginia National Guard personnel involved in the incident and criticized recent political rhetoric regarding diversity in the military, particularly following President Trump's executive order banning transgender individuals from service. The spread of the rumors has drawn attention to the ongoing challenges faced by transgender service members. Despite her efforts to dispel the rumors, misinformation continues to circulate on social media, further exacerbating the situation for Ellis and the victims' families.