Jo Ellis, a trans woman and Black Hawk helicopter pilot, was falsely accused of causing a plane crash in January, sparking a wave of online hate and death threats. The accusations, propagated by commentator Matt Wallace on X, were entirely fabricated, yet reached millions and fueled a disturbing trend of scapegoating transgender people for tragedies.

The incident began after an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter near Washington, resulting in 67 fatalities. Shortly after, Wallace, using information from one of his shadow accounts on X, falsely identified Ellis as the pilot responsible. He even falsely said she was converting to Judaism and painted her as a “transterrorist.” These claims spread rapidly across social media, making Ellis a trending topic and subjecting her to intense harassment.

Ellis, a war veteran and current member of the Virginia National Guard reserve, was forced to publicly deny the accusations to protect her safety. After she exposed Wallaces lies, Wallace began deleting his posts and changing his story, first claiming he wasn’t the source, then blaming groupthink. Wallace never apologized to Ellis.

The incident highlights a pattern of misinformation targeting transgender people, particularly after mass shootings or other tragedies. Wired magazine reports at least 12 cases, and that commentators and media outlets often create and spread these accusations for clicks and financial gain.

Ellis has filed a defamation lawsuit against Wallace, who has allegedly been evading service. She emphasizes that she will see the case through. She stated the experience has fundamentally changed her life, and that he will be held accountable.