A former American Airlines flight attendant has pleaded guilty to charges of secretly recording an underage girl in an airplane bathroom, along with possessing child pornography. Authorities say he may have recorded multiple other victims.
Guilty Plea and Investigation
Estes Carter Thompson III pleaded guilty to two felony charges: sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. He has been under investigation for incidents involving five child victims, including one from a Texas flight.
Incident Aboard a Texas Flight
The Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that on September 2, 2023, Thompson was working as a flight attendant on an American Airlines flight from Charlotte to Boston. During the flight, he allegedly directed a 14-year-old passenger to use the first-class lavatory instead of the main cabin restroom.
Before the girl entered, Thompson claimed he needed to wash his hands and warned her that the toilet seat was broken. Once inside, the girl noticed red stickers on the toilet seat, reading “inoperative catering equipment,” “removed from service,” and “seat broken.” Underneath, she discovered Thompson’s iPhone.
The girl took a photo of the stickers and phone, then showed her parents, who alerted flight attendants. The captain notified law enforcement, and Thompson was arrested upon arrival at Boston’s Logan Airport.
Additional Evidence Found
Further investigation revealed that Thompson had recorded multiple minors in airplane bathrooms between January and August 2023. Authorities also found over 50 images of a 9-year-old Austin girl, who was flying unaccompanied to Disney World, in his iCloud account.
The DOJ stated that Thompson’s suitcase contained 11 similar “inoperative catering equipment” stickers, which he allegedly used to conceal recording devices.
Sentencing and Civil Lawsuits
Thompson faces a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. His sentencing is scheduled for June 17, 2025, and he remains in custody until then.
Several families are also pursuing civil lawsuits against both Thompson and American Airlines. A North Carolina family has settled with the airline, while a Texas lawsuit remains pending, with a jury trial set for this summer.
Texas Times will provide updates as this case develops.
