On January 29, a Blackhawk helicopter crash in Washington, DC, resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft. Jo Ellis, a part-time pilot in the Virginia Army National Guard, was falsely implicated online as responsible for the tragedy. Following the crash, erroneous claims spread rapidly, particularly after Ellis had publicly discussed her experience as a transgender pilot. Influencer Matt Wallace's inflammatory post suggested a link between the crash and transgender individuals, contributing to the scapegoating of Ellis and revealing broader societal issues surrounding trans people in the military.
Jo Ellis, a part-time pilot with the Virginia Army National Guard, was falsely blamed online for a helicopter crash that killed 67 people, despite not being involved.
After the January 29th DC crash, rumors emerged connecting Jo Ellis to the tragedy, fueled by a right-wing influencer's provocative posts targeting transgender individuals.
The disinformation about Ellis spiraled through social media following President Trump's policy barring transgender individuals from military service, highlighting existing societal tensions.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern, with a review revealing twelve other instances of scapegoating trans individuals in similar tragic situations.
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