FORT WORTH- A Former American Airlines (AA) flight attendant has been sentenced to 18.5 years in federal jail for secretly recording underage girls in an airplane lavatory. The case, which unfolded after a 2023 flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), led to a multi-agency investigation and criminal conviction.
Estes Carter Thompson III, who previously worked for American Airlines, pleaded guilty after prosecutors uncovered disturbing video evidence. His sentencing took place in Boston, where the federal court considered the impact on five victims and the abuse of trust committed while in uniform.
Photo: American AirlinesEx-American Airlines Attendant Jailed
On September 2, 2023, Thompson, working on American Airlines (AA) Flight 1441 from Charlotte (CLT) to Boston (BOS), targeted a 14-year-old girl waiting to use the main cabin bathroom. He directed her to the first-class lavatory, claiming the toilet seat was broken.
Inside, the victim discovered a suspicious sticker labeled “defective catering equipment” on the toilet seat. Behind it, she found an iPhone camera concealed and recording.
She immediately informed her parents, who confronted Thompson on board. According to PYOK, Thompson then locked himself inside the same lavatory as the plane landed, attempting to reset his phone to erase evidence.
Digital forensics experts later recovered incriminating material from Thompson’s iCloud storage, including images and videos of girls aged 7, 9, 11, and 14 in compromising situations. Among the recovered material were over 50 photos of a 9-year-old unaccompanied minor.
Prosecutors described Thompson’s actions as creating a “secret recording studio” in the lavatory, exploiting his role to target vulnerable passengers. The recovered evidence confirmed his deliberate and repeated violation of trust over several months in 2023.
Photo: File:N664AW American Airlines 2001 Airbus A320-232 – cn 1621 (22281222688).jpg – Wikimedia CommonsSentencing Details and Restrictions
Thompson accepted a plea agreement in March 2024, which stipulated a minimum sentence of 15 years, but a federal judge imposed a stricter 18.5-year prison term.
Although he was initially facing up to $250,000 in fines, he was ordered to pay only a $200 special assessment fee. Restitution payments to the five victims are expected, with exact figures to be determined in October 2025.
Following his release, Thompson will be placed on the s*x offender registry and serve five years of supervised release. His probation conditions include:
- Up to 104 drug and alcohol tests per year
- Mandatory polygraph testing
- A ban on alcohol consumption
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrImpact on Victims
Federal prosecutors condemned Thompson’s calculated abuse of power, stating he “used his position of trust as a flight attendant to select and exploit children” during vulnerable moments.
The memorandum described how Thompson manipulated access to private lavatory areas and stored videos for personal sexual gratification.
Authorities emphasized the emotional trauma inflicted on the victims, saying his actions left the children with “fear, mistrust, insecurity, and sadness,” erasing their confidence in adults and institutions meant to protect them.
Photo: American AirlinesAirline Response
American Airlines (AA) has not released a detailed public statement on the incident but has confirmed Thompson is no longer employed.
The case raises serious questions about passenger safety, especially for minors, and highlights the importance of enhanced crew monitoring and child protection protocols in commercial aviation.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Department of Justice (DOJ) all contributed to the successful prosecution of the case.
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