After an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in the air over Washington D.C. on January 29, 2025, misinformation started circulating online. One example is a false identification of Jo Ellis, a transgender pilot in the Virginia National Guard, as one of the pilots who died in the crash. Ellis has spoken against such claims, asking that respect be given to the actual victims and their loved ones.
The Accident On the evening of January 29th, an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ-700 flying as Flight 5342 collided in mid-air with a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while being on approach for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, sending both into the Potomac River, which tragically claimed the lives of all 64 jet passengers, along with three soldiers aboard the helicopter.
Jo Ellis false allegations
Following the crash, a spate of irresponsible misinformation cropped up on social media, including some reports purporting to claim that Jo Ellis was among the dead pilots. On her Facebook page, Ellis issued a statement, January 31, to declare her status in life and protest the spread of the false allegation:
“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.”
Who is Jo Ellis?
Jo Ellis serves as a Chief Warrant Officer and a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, with the Virginia National Guard serving for 15 years. She has deployed to Iraq and also participated in several other operations overseas. She is also serving part-time as an IT engineer in the private sector aside from her military duties. She came out, and her gender transition began in 2023 while serving in the Army; she said she received “overwhelming support” from her command and unit.
Official responses and ongoing investigation
Afterward, President Donald Trump blamed DEI initiatives for the collision, saying they “lowered standards” in hiring air traffic controllers through the Federal Aviation Administration in past administrations. He said the American Airlines pilot “was doing everything right,” adding that questions should be asked about where the helicopter was positioned during the approach.
In a news conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put some context to what happened. He says the three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk were training for what is called a “Continuity of Government mission.” He addressed military operations come with inherent risk and said,
“The military does dangerous things, it does routine things on a regular basis. Tragically, last night, a mistake was made.”
What caused the crash is under investigation, authorities said, and it includes checking out air traffic control communications, flight paths and potential mechanical failure. Identities of the three service members on the Black Hawk are not publicly disclosed.
