Skip to main content

No, transgender pilot wasn't flying Black Hawk helicopter that crashed in DC | Fact check

Katie Smith   Paste BN
play
Show Caption

The claim: Transgender pilot was flying Black Hawk helicopter that collided with American Airlines jet

A Jan. 31 Instagram post (direct link, archived link) claims a transgender pilot was involved in a deadly mid-air collision in Washington, D.C.“Breaking Black Hawk pilot identified as transgender officer with strong anti Trump views," the video claims. “The pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the deadly mid air collision with an American Airlines flight at Reagan National Airport has been identified as Chief Warrant Officer Joe (sic) Ellis of the Virginia National Guard.”

The post received nearly 3,000 likes in 10 days, and similar posts spread on Facebook and X.

More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

Our rating: False

Virginia Army National Guard pilot Jo Ellis was not flying the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision. The Army identified the soldiers killed in the crash as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves and Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach. Ellis also posted a video statement to her Facebook on Jan. 31 confirming she was not involved.

'It is insulting to the families'

An Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with an American Airlines passenger jet over the Potomac River on Jan. 29. Sixty-seven people died in the crash, including O’Hara, Eaves and Lobach, the three-person helicopter crew, the Army confirmed.

During a news briefing the following day, President Donald Trump baselessly suggested the collision was the result of the Federal Aviation Administration’s diversity hiring goals. He presented no evidence to support that claim.

The cause of the collision is under investigation. It will be included in a final report expected within the next one to two years, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Fact check: Altered video purports to show McConnell wearing bandage after Capitol fall

It is clear, however, that Ellis, who is transgender, was not piloting the Black Hawk at the time it crashed.

Posts claiming Ellis was flying the Army helicopter began circulating shortly after the incident, prompting her to post a video confirming she wasn’t on board.

“I understand some people have associated me with the crash in D.C., and that is false,” Ellis said in the recording. “It is insulting to the families to try to tie this to some 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.”

Addressing diversity policy claims

Ellis denied claims alleging she was hired because of the military's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, sometimes referred to as DEI policies. She came out as transgender and transitioned after completing and passing her flight training evaluations, Ellis told Paste BN.

“There’s no way any DEI policy could have benefited me if one exists,” she said. “I don’t know of any DEI policy that changes pilot standards. The standards are the same regardless of race, gender, etc."

Several posts also claimed Ellis has “anti-Trump views.”  The Army pilot, however, said she “only oppose(s) the trans military ban." Trump signed an executive order Jan. 27 barring transgender people from serving openly.

“I swore an oath to defend my country, and as an officer in the U.S. military, I will honor that oath regardless of who the president is,” Ellis said. “I don’t believe any personal political opinions impact the ability to do my job. I’ve served for 15 years under presidents and governors of both political parties without issue.”

Paste BN reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

AFP and Lead Stories also debunked this claim.

Our fact-check sources

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.

Paste BN is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.

Facebook Twitter Email