American Airlines Flight Attendant Charged with Secretly Recording Minors in Airplane Bathrooms

Estes Carter Thompson III, a 36-year-old flight attendant for American Airlines, has been indicted on charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse images. Federal prosecutors allege that Thompson secretly recorded a 14-year-old girl and four other minors using airplane lavatories between January and August 2023.

According to the indictment, on a September 2, 2023 flight from Charlotte to Boston, Thompson attempted to surreptitiously record a 14-year-old girl using the airplane bathroom. The girl discovered an iPhone hidden under the toilet seat lid and took a picture of the device. A search of Thompson's iCloud account revealed hundreds of images of child sexual abuse generated through artificial intelligence, as well as four additional instances where he recorded minors aged 7, 9, 11, and 14 using airplane lavatories.

Why this matters: This disturbing case highlights the ongoing threat of sexual exploitation and abuse faced by children, even in seemingly secure environments like airplanes. It emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance and robust safeguards to protect minors from predatory behavior.

Thompson, who was arrested in January 2024 in Lynchburg, Virginia, has been in federal custody since his arrest. He faces up to 30 years in prison for the attempted sexual exploitation charge and up to 20 years for the possession of child abuse images charge. If convicted, Thompson would also be subject to at least 5 years of supervised release and fines of up to $250,000.

In response to the charges, American Airlines stated, "The flight attendant involved in this incident was immediately removed from service and has not worked for the airline since the incident was reported." The airline emphasized its commitment to the safety and well-being of its customers, especially minors.

Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 25, 2024, on one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of images of child sexual abuse depicting a prepubescent minor. He remains in federal custody as he awaits trial on these serious charges. Prosecutors say the evidence against Thompson, including the images found in his iCloud account, paints a disturbing picture of an airline employee exploiting his position to secretly record and victimize young children.

Key Takeaways

• Flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson indicted for attempted sexual exploitation of minors.
• Secretly recorded 14-year-old girl and 4 other minors using airplane lavatories.
• Possessed hundreds of AI-generated child sexual abuse images on his iCloud account.
• Faces up to 30 years in prison for attempted exploitation and 20 years for possession.
• Immediately removed from service by American Airlines after incident was reported.