A trans-identified pilot with the Virginia Nationwide Guard has spoken out after being wrongly recognized as one of many victims in a deadly crash involving a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airways jet over the Potomac River close to Washington, D.C.
The mid-air collision Wednesday evening, which resulted within the tragic deaths of 64 passengers aboard American Airways Flight 5342 and three troopers within the helicopter, marked the primary deadly crash of a business airliner in america since 2009. Each plane plummeted into the Potomac River, claiming the lives of all on board.
Following the crash, a Fb publish on Friday that went viral claimed that the trans-identified chief warrant officer, who goes by the identify Jo Ellis, was among the many deceased.
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“Unhappy, actually unhappy. Psychological sickness brought on by our personal authorities actions?” the Fb publish’s caption learn.
Later that day, Ellis posted a message in response, stating, “Some craziness has occurred on the web and I’m being named as one of many pilots of the DC crash. Please report any accounts or posts you see. It’s insulting to the victims and households of these misplaced, they usually deserve higher than this BS from the bots and trolls of the web.”
Ellis shared a video Friday morning as “proof of life” that he was not one of many victims killed within the crash.
“I perceive some individuals have related me with the crash in D.C.,” mentioned Ellis. “And that’s false. It’s insulting to the households to attempt to tie this to some political agenda. They don’t deserve that. I don’t deserve this.”
Ellis additionally shared what seemed to be an official assertion: “The Division of Protection is answerable for casualty notifications. There have been no Virginia Nationwide Guard personnel on that Black Hawk that collided with the jetliner Wednesday night.”
Ellis’ assertion got here after a number of social media posts falsely linked him to the crash earlier than the identities of all of the crew members have been disclosed. The spouse of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, of Mississippi, confirmed his dying on social media, whereas the crew chief on the helicopter was recognized as Ryan O’Hara.
The Pentagon acknowledged that the investigation into the reason for the collision is ongoing.
U.S. Determine Skating, the nationwide governing physique for the game of determine skating, mentioned in an announcement that a number of members of the determine skating group have been on the American Airways flight.
“U.S. Determine Skating can verify that a number of members of our skating group have been sadly aboard American Airways Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday night in Washington, D.C. These athletes, coaches, and relations have been returning dwelling from the Nationwide Growth Camp held together with the U.S. Determine Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” officers on the determine skating physique mentioned.
In response to the crash, President Donald Trump mentioned the crash victims are within the “heat embrace of a loving God” and appeared to hyperlink the collision to a push for variety, fairness and inclusion by the federal authorities.
“On behalf of the primary woman, myself and 340 million Individuals, our hearts are shattered alongside yours and our prayers are with you now and within the days to come back,” Trump instructed reporters Thursday. “We’re right here so that you can wipe away the tears and to give you our devotion, our love and our assist.”
Trump famous that he signed an govt order “restoring our highest requirements for air visitors controllers and different essential jobs all through the nation” shortly after taking workplace final week, condemning insurance policies carried out by the Biden administration.
The president cited a Fox Information article highlighting how the Federal Aviation Administration’s “variety push features a concentrate on hiring individuals with ‘extreme mental’ and ‘psychiatric’ disabilities” due to a perception that individuals with such disabilities are “probably the most underrepresented phase of the workforce.”
Trump mentioned, “The FAA [was] actively recruiting employees who are suffering extreme mental disabilities, psychiatric issues and different psychological and bodily circumstances underneath a variety and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the company’s web site.”
The president asserted that the pilot of the passenger plane was “doing every part proper” by “utilizing the identical monitor as everyone else” when trying to land the airplane whereas elevating questions as to why the helicopter was at “the identical top” and “going at an angle that was unbelievably unhealthy.”
