Jo Ellis, a dedicated Blackhawk pilot with the Virginia National Guard since 2009, recently found herself at the center of a false and damaging rumor. The seasoned pilot, who has served her country in Iraq and Kuwait, was wrongfully accused of piloting a military helicopter that tragically collided with a commercial airplane in Washington, D.C., on January 29. This incident resulted in the loss of all lives involved. Although Jo Ellis had no connection to the crash, misinformation spread rapidly online, forcing her into an unwanted spotlight.
In 2023, Ellis informed her command of her decision to begin transitioning. By 2024, she had come out to her unit as a trans woman and received overwhelming support. This journey of authenticity led her to pen an article about her experiences as a trans woman in the military for Smerconish.com on January 28, just a day before the crash that sparked the false accusations. Her article captured the attention of commentator Michael Smerconish, who interviewed her for further insights.
The rumors began when Ellis received a text from a close friend at 4:30 a.m. on Friday morning. The message alerted her that people were posting on her friend's Facebook, asking if he was friends with "the one that killed those people in the crash." Concerned and aware of the potential dangers of misinformation, Ellis took to Facebook that morning to quash the rumors.
"All I had to do was say I’m alive, and that kind of broke the whole rumor," – Jo Ellis
Her attempt to clarify the situation, however, did not immediately halt the spread of false information. As the day progressed, the situation escalated with media outlets reaching out to her directly.
"Then the Daily Mail called my personal cell phone and asked if I was alive," – Jo Ellis
At this point, Ellis realized the gravity of the situation. She understood that this was not merely an isolated incident but rather a widespread narrative that needed addressing.
"And that’s when it kind of sunk in. And I was like, oh, this is big. This is not some corner of the internet saying something ridiculous." – Jo Ellis
As rumors swirled and reached a fever pitch, Ellis took necessary precautions for her safety. She arranged armed security and armed herself to ensure her protection amid the growing frenzy.
Ellis strongly believes that she was targeted due to her identity as a trans woman. The unfounded allegations felt like an attack not only on her character but also on her community.
"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." – Jo Ellis
Despite the distressing experience, Ellis remains resolute in her commitment to serve everyone, acknowledging the diverse perspectives and sentiments within the community.
"I know not everyone loves me back, and that’s OK, but I want to serve everyone." – Jo Ellis
Reflecting on this tumultuous period, Ellis expressed a desire to transform this incident into a force for good. She aims to use her experience as an opportunity for positive change, though she admits she is still determining what form that might take.
"I want to use this incident somehow as a form of good. I don’t know what that looks like yet, but I really want to turn this into something that does good for the world." – Jo Ellis
With grace and resilience, Ellis refuses to play the victim or martyr role. Instead, she hopes to inspire others by standing up against hate and demonstrating strength in adversity.
"I don’t want to make it about me," – Jo Ellis
"I don’t want to be the victim or the martyr. I want to show people that being strong and standing up to this hate, that hopefully something good can come from it." – Jo Ellis
In an interview, she clarified that she had not made any negative comments about political figures and simply wished to continue serving.
"I didn’t say anything negative about Trump. I just said I want to keep serving." – Jo Ellis
However, she also pointed out the inconsistencies in social media regulations where baseless accusations can spread unchecked.
"Calling me a murderer is apparently not a violation of X rules," – Jo Ellis