An American Airlines flight attendant was arrested on Thursday for allegedly attempting to secretly record a 14-year-old female passenger using a bathroom on a plane he was working on last September.
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The suspect, Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, from Charlotte, North Carolina, is also accused of having recordings of four other minor female passengers using lavatories on a previous flight. Thompson has been charged with attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse images involving a prepubescent minor. According to the Associated Press, Thompson was apprehended in Lynchburg, Virginia, and will remain in custody until his initial court appearance in Virginia. Subsequently, he will appear in federal court in Boston later.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy expressed his concern: “The deeply disturbing conduct alleged here is something no parent or child should ever have to worry about when they travel. Mr. Thompson allegedly used his position to prey on and surreptitiously record innocent children, including unaccompanied minors.”
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American Airlines responded to the incident, emphasizing their commitment to taking the allegation seriously. They stated that the flight attendant was immediately withheld from service following the September 2023 incident and has not worked since. The airline said, “They don’t reflect our airline or our core mission of caring for people. We have been fully cooperating with law enforcement in its investigation as there is nothing more important than the safety and security of our customers and team.”
According to investigators, during a flight from Charlotte to Boston on September 2, 2023, the 14-year-old victim attempted to use the main cabin lavatory nearest to her seat but found it occupied. Thompson then directed her to the unoccupied first-class lavatory and escorted her there. Before entering, he allegedly informed her that he needed to wash his hands and that the toilet seat was broken.
After Thompson left, the teenager discovered red stickers underneath the toilet seat lid. These stickers had handwritten messages in black ink, stating, “INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT,” “REMOVE FROM SERVICE,” and “SEAT BROKEN.” Court documents indicate that Thompson had concealed his iPhone beneath these stickers to record a video. Before leaving the bathroom, the girl took a picture of the stickers and the hidden iPhone. Thompson immediately returned to the lavatory.
The victim informed her parents, and her father confronted Thompson, who locked himself in the lavatory with his iPhone for a few minutes before the plane began its descent. A subsequent search of Thompson’s suitcase uncovered 11 stickers with the message “INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT.” Further investigation of Thompson’s iCloud account revealed four additional instances between January and August 2023 where he recorded a minor using the lavatory on a plane. The victims in these recordings were 7, 9, 11, and 14 years old at the time. Additionally, more than 50 images of an unaccompanied 9-year-old were discovered in Thompson’s account.
Law enforcement has identified all the minor victims involved in this case and has contacted their families. The family members of the 14-year-old victim, who have announced their intention to sue the airline, expressed satisfaction with the arrest. Paul Llewellyn, their attorney, stated, “It is also shocking to hear that he allegedly preyed on at least five minors while they were flying on American. It remains to be seen whether American Airlines will now finally take some measure of responsibility.”