Former American Airlines Flight Attendant Sentenced For Secretly Filming Underage Girls

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 21:57 IST

Thompson was accused of taping his iPhone to the underside of a toilet seat to covertly record minors.

Thompson, who pleaded guilty in March, admitted to recording multiple girls

A former American Airlines flight attendant has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison after being found guilty in an act of secretly recording underage girls in airplane lavatories. Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, was sentenced to 18.5 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, by US District Court Judge Julia Kobick in Boston on July 23, according to the Associated Press.

Thompson was accused of taping his iPhone to the underside of a toilet seat to covertly record minors who were using the bathroom. Prosecutors revealed that he had secretly filmed at least five underage girls over a span of nine months. During sentencing, Judge Kobick stated that Thompson’s actions had stolen the innocence of his victims.

Thompson, who pleaded guilty in March, admitted to recording multiple girls and possessing dozens of AI-generated sexually explicit images involving children. In court, he apologised, calling his actions “selfish, perverse, and wrong."

He was arrested in September 2023 in Lynchburg, Virginia, following an incident reported by a teenage girl during a flight from Charlotte to Boston. According to her account, she was about to use a lavatory, which she found occupied. On pretext of helping her, Thompson directed her to another supposedly unoccupied one. Inside, she discovered an iPhone taped to the toilet seat with labels stating that the seat is broken. The girl took photos of the setup and reported it to authorities.

Her father reportedly confronted Thompson mid-flight, prompting him to lock himself in the bathroom for the rest of the journey and attempt to wipe his phone’s data. Despite his efforts, an investigation uncovered his exploitation activities.

Thompson was later indicted on charges of attempted sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material. His phone data revealed disturbing content, including explicit AI-generated images depicting children.

American Airlines swiftly terminated Thompson’s employment after the incident was brought to light, as per the New York Post. The company emphasised its commitment to passenger safety and cooperation with law enforcement.

Thompson is expected to serve his sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, where he will undergo sex offender-specific treatment, according to his attorneys.

Location :

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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News world Former American Airlines Flight Attendant Sentenced For Secretly Filming Underage Girls