American Airlines flight attendant who admitted to secretly filming young girls in plane bathroom learns fate

Estes Carter Thompson III, a former American Airlines flight attendant, has been sentenced to 18 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to recording underage girls in airplane lavatories. The 37-year-old admitted to secretly filming girls as young as seven years old over a nine-month period, as well as possessing AI-generated child pornography.

Thompson, who was described by the Boston U.S. District Court Judge Julia Kobick as “appalling,” apologized for his actions at his sentencing. He acknowledged that his behavior was “selfish, perverse, and wrong,” and expressed regret for the harm he caused to the victims.

Federal prosecutors highlighted the disturbing nature of Thompson’s actions, stating that he had violated the privacy of the children and exploited them for his own sexual gratification. The victims, ranging in age from 7 to 14, were left traumatized and fearful as a result of his actions.

Thompson was caught after a 14-year-old passenger discovered a hidden camera in the airplane lavatory during a flight to Boston. The teenager found an iPhone concealed under a sticker on the toilet seat and alerted her parents. Thompson attempted to delete the evidence but was apprehended by authorities.

In addition to the recordings of underage girls, investigators found a collection of sexual AI-generated images involving children in Thompson’s possession. He pleaded guilty to charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor.

Thompson will serve his sentence at FMC Butner in North Carolina and has committed to undergoing treatment for sex offenders. He will also be subject to five years of supervised release following his prison term.

American Airlines terminated Thompson’s employment following his arrest, but the company is facing a civil lawsuit from one of the victims. The victim’s family, represented by attorney Paul Llewellyn, is calling for accountability and reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The case of Estes Carter Thompson III serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding children from exploitation and the need for stringent measures to protect their privacy and well-being.