Flight Attendant Arrested After Allegedly Filming Minors in Plane Lavatory: DOJ

An American Airlines flight attendant was arrested after he allegedly filmed minors in the bathroom of an airplane, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Estes Carter Thompson III, 36, was arrested Thursday in Lynchburg, Virginia, and charged with one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possessing child pornography which showed a prepubescent minor, according to a press release from the DOJ.

"The deeply disturbing conduct alleged here is something no parent or child should ever have to worry about when they travel," Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said in a statement. "Mr. Thompson allegedly used his position to prey on and surreptitiously record innocent children, including unaccompanied minors, while in a vulnerable state aboard flights he was working."

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"Everyone - especially children - should feel safe and secure as airline passengers, and parents should feel comfortable traveling with their children," Levy added. "Protecting children is a paramount priority for this office and we will aggressively investigate and hold accountable people who victimize children."

Beginning on Sept. 2, 2023, while Thompson was working as a flight attendant with American Airlines , he allegedly recorded or attempted to record a 14-year-old female passenger. Halfway through the flight, Thompson allegedly led the female passenger, who had been waiting for the lavatory in the main cabin, to the first-class lavatory, according to court documents.

After leading the female teenager to the first-class restroom, Thompson allegedly informed her that he needed to rinse his hands and that the toilet seat was broken. When the girl entered the bathroom she allegedly noticed red stickers on the bottom of the toilet seat lid with the words, "INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT," "REMOVE FROM SERVICE," and "SEAT BROKEN" and Thompson's concealed phone beneath the stickers.

The female passenger then allegedly took a photo of the red stickers and Thompson's concealed phone, and upon returning to her seat, informed her parents and showed them the photo she had taken. Her parents informed the other flight attendants, who then notified the captain, who in turn notified law enforcement officials.

Upon landing at Boston Logan International Airport, law enforcement discovered that Thompson's phone had allegedly been restored to its factory settings. After conducting a search of Thompson's suitcase, law enforcement officials discovered 11 stickers with the words, "INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT," like the one the female passenger had seen.

An additional search of Thompson's iCloud account showed that in four separate incidents between January and August 2023, Thompson had recorded minors ages 7, 9, 11, and 14 at the time of the recordings. Law enforcement officials also discovered more than 50 photos of an unaccompanied 9-year-old prior to take off and as the child was sleeping.

Thompson faces up to 30 years in prison for sexual exploitation of children, and up to 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography, along with a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and up to a lifetime of supervised release, according to the DOJ.