American Airlines was sued after a 9-year-old girl was secretly recorded in a airplane bathroom through a creepy flight attendant’s phone. The distressing charges against American Airlines first surfaced last fall on September 2 when a 14-year-old girl went to the bathroom on her journey from Charlotte to Boston. According to investigators, Estes Thompson III, a 37-year-old flight attendant, redirected the girl to the first-class washroom and guided her there.
Moreover, the 14-year-old girl reported that before she entered the restroom, Thompson told her he needed to wash his hands. Also stating to her that the bathroom seat was broken. After he left, she went into the bathroom and almost immediately noticed red stickers on the underside of the toilet seat cover, which was open. Thompson allegedly disguised his iPhone under the stickers in order to shoot a video. Fortunately, the young girl was able to use her phone to photograph the toilet where the iPhone was place before returning to her seat.
Later on, when federal authorities became engaged in the investigation. Thompson’s phone allegedly had videos of four young females, ages 7, 9, 11 and 14. There was also dozens of images of a 9-year-old girl who was unaccompanied to the restroom.
American Airlines Legal Filing
Furthermore, the case against Thompson involving the 9-year-old girl from Texas was filed in February. This was in fact more than a year after she was allegedly filmed on a January 2023 flight to Los Angeles. Despite the girls’ parents’ efforts to bring justice to her case, they received an unexpected answer from American Airlines in the legal filing.
In order to avoid being found financially accountable in a civil case in Texas, American Airlines attorneys attempted to blame the 9-year-old girl. They argued that she allowed herself to be secretly recorded by the flight attendant’s phone in the airline’s lavatory. The American Airlines attorney claimed that the child’s harm was caused by her own carelessness and negligence. They also mentioned that it was her fault for using a compromised lavatory that she knew or should have known had a visible and illuminated recording device.
In addition, the girl’s mother did not hold back. She openly expressed her amazement and fury at American Airlines’ claims against her daughter who was only 9-years-old. She mentioned:
Instead of taking responsibility for this awful event, American Airlines is actually blaming our daughter for being filmed. How in good conscience could they even make such a suggestion? It both shocks and angers us. American Airlines has no shame.
Additionally, while attempting to avoid any legal measures, the airline completely blamed Thompson. They stated his alleged activities occurred “outside the course and scope of his employment.” Further evidence that the airline is attempting to avoid any consequences for one of their employees’ conduct.
Trying to Make Amends
Also, in response to the airline’s harsh defense, an American Airlines spokesperson issued a statement Wednesday morning. They stated that the included defense was not indicative of their airline and that they had directed it to be altered. Following their apology to the family and victim, the airline stated that they did not believe the child was at fault. They also mentioned that they take complaints involving a former staff member extremely seriously. American Airlines mentioned:
Our core mission is to care for people and the foundation of that is the safety and security of our customers and team.
However, the family’s lawyer, Paul Llewellyn, stated that American Airlines did not suggest the North Carolina adolescent was at fault in a separate and ongoing lawsuit against the airline, which was first filed in December. Rising doubts and questions about whether the airline’s apology was genuinely sincere.
Legal Charges
Thompson, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was arrested in January in Lynchburg, Virginia, and was charged last month. On Monday, he pleaded not guilty to allegations of sexual exploitation and possession of photographs of child sexual abuse in federal court in Boston. Fortunately, Thompson is currently being jailed without bail on these allegations. However, nothing is revealed about what will happen to him legally. Regardless many do hope he is properly charged and accepts responsibility for his acts.
Overall, it is extremely tragic what happened to all of these young girls. Despite of not knowing what unfolded with the other children everyone sincerely hope they receive the justice they deserve. Hopefully, all those girls involved in legal processes are handled with dignity and respect.
Written by Nohemi Sanchez
Sources
kxan: ‘Error’ made in American Airlines filing over child filmed in airplane bathroom
New York Post: American Airlines ‘outrageously’ suggests girl, 9, to blame after creepy flight attendant records her in bathroom
10 Boston: American Airlines calls legal filing blaming girl, 9, for plane bathroom recording ‘an error’
Featured Image Courtesy of Riik@mctr Flickr Page – Creative Common License
First Inset Image Courtesy of RosieTulips Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Second Inset Image Courtesy of jpmatth Flickr Page – Public Domain License
