Convicted former flight attendant of American Airlines penalized for covertly filming minors in aircraft restroom
American Airlines Flight Attendant Sentenced for Secretly Recording Minors
In a shocking turn of events, American Airlines flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III was sentenced to 18 and a half years in prison for secretly recording and exploiting young girls in airplane bathrooms.
The saga began in September 2023, when a 14-year-old girl discovered a cellphone taped to the lid of a lavatory toilet during an American Airlines flight. She took a photo of the device and showed it to her parents. The father of the girl made a beeline for the plane's flight attendants with the photo.
U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick called Thompson's actions "appalling" and said the child victims had lost their innocence because of what he did. The sentencing memo described Thompson's actions as robbing the girls of their innocence and belief in the goodness of the world.
Thompson pled guilty to charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography in March 2025. He was indicted in April 2024.
Authorities later alleged that Thompson had filmed at least four other girls between the ages of 7 and 14 using airplane bathrooms over a nine-month span in 2023. Thompson targeted unaccompanied minors and lured them to bathrooms rigged with hidden cameras for his own sexual gratification.
American Airlines responded to the situation by cooperating with authorities after the discovery. Thompson was removed from his position and is now referred to as a former employee in reports on his sentencing. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment from our website Digital.
Thompson apologized at his sentencing hearing, describing his actions as "selfish, perverse, and wrong." He intends to undergo both sex offender-specific treatment and substance abuse treatment. Thompson will serve his sentence at FMC Butner in North Carolina.
In a prior court filing, American Airlines' outside counsel appeared to blame one of the victims, a claim that has not been confirmed by other sources. Scott Lauer, Thompson's attorney, declined to comment to our website Digital.
Danielle Wallace, a breaking news and politics reporter at our website Digital, covered the story. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter @danimwallace. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
No information was provided about an incident involving an irate American Airlines passenger allegedly punching, kicking, and spitting on flight attendants and police officers, which remains separate from this case.
- In addition to the shocking scandal involving Thompson, other general news stories have unfolded, such as breaking news about political developments or science advancements in health-and-wellness or crime-and-justice sectors.
- Amidst the appalling actions of Thompson and the resulting investigation, one might also catch up on important news about new discoveries in science, emerging treatments in health-and-wellness, or updates in crime-and-justice to maintain a grasp of current affairs.
- As Thompson is sentenced to prison for his loathsome actions and focuses on treatment for his offenses, it is crucial to remember that sexual health is a crucial aspect of overall health-and-wellness and should be addressed responsibly and openly in society.
