A transgender soldier has spoken out after being incorrectly named as one of the Black Hawk helicopter pilots who died in the collision with an American Airlines plane in Washington D.C on Wednesday.
Jo Ellis wrote on Facebook on Friday: "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."
Newsweek has contacted Ellis for further comment on Facebook.
Why It Matters
The military helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 midair as it was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday evening.
The collision sent both aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River and killed all 60 passengers and four crew members on the plane, as well as the three soldiers aboard the helicopter.
The identities of the three service members on the Army UH-60 Black Hawk have not been released. Some social media users wrongly said that Ellis was one of the soldiers who died.
What To Know
Ellis is a Chief Warrant Officer and Black Hawk helicopter pilot who has served in the Virginia National Guard for 15 years, according to the news outlet Smerconish.com. She served in combat zones in Iraq, along with other operations overseas.
She serves in the military part-time, and also works as an IT engineer in the private sector.
Ellis wrote in Smerconish.com that she began transitioning in 2023 while serving in the Army, and was met with "overwhelming support" from her command and unit.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump blamed diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for the crash and also questioned the helicopter crew's actions during a news conference on Thursday.
He said that DEI programs had "lowered standards" for hiring air traffic controllers in the Federal Aviation Administration during the Joe Biden and Barack Obama presidencies.
He also said that the American Airlines pilot "was doing everything right," and that "for some reason, you have a helicopter at the same height and going at an angle."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during the news conference that the three soldiers who died were training for a "Continuity of Government mission."
"The military does dangerous things, it does routine things on the regular basis," Hegseth said. "Tragically, last night, a mistake was made."
What's Next
An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way.
About the writer
Khaleda Rahman is Newsweek's National Correspondent based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on education and national news. Khaleda ... Read more