American Airlines Flight Attendant Pleads Guilty to Recording Minors in Lavatory
A former American Airlines flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, has pleaded guilty to charges related to secretly recording minors in airplane lavatories. The 37-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, admitted to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child sexual abuse images. His sentencing is scheduled for 17 June 2025, where he could face up to 30 years in prison.
The disturbing case first came to light on 2 September 2023, when a 14-year-old girl discovered Thompson’s iPhone hidden under maintenance stickers on the toilet seat of a first-class lavatory during a flight from Charlotte to Boston. The teenager immediately reported the device to her parents, leading to Thompson’s arrest upon arrival in Boston.
Further investigation into Thompson’s iCloud account revealed he had secretly filmed at least four other minors—aged 7, 9, 11, and 14—using airplane lavatories between January and August 2023. Authorities also found hundreds of AI-generated child sexual abuse images in his possession.
Following the incident, American Airlines confirmed Thompson was “immediately withheld from service” and had not worked for the airline since. The airline expressed its full cooperation with law enforcement and reiterated its commitment to passenger safety.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, the families of two victims have filed lawsuits against American Airlines, accusing the company of negligence. One of the lawsuits has already been settled, while the second is set for trial in July 2025.
Thompson faces a significant prison sentence, with the attempted sexual exploitation charge carrying a penalty of 15 to 30 years and the possession charge up to 20 years. His guilty plea avoids a lengthy trial, but the severity of the crimes means he is likely to receive a lengthy custodial sentence.
The case has sparked concerns about airline security measures and how such incidents can be prevented in the future. Authorities urge passengers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to cabin crew or law enforcement immediately.
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