A shocking case of child exploitation has come to light as Estes Carter Thompson III, a former American Airlines flight attendant, pleaded guilty to two felony charges on Thursday, March 6, 2025. According to a news release from Massachusetts District Attorney Leah Belaire Foley, Thompson admitted to secretly filming several underage girls in airplane bathrooms and possessing child pornography.

Background of the case

Thompson, 37, was arrested in January 2024 after a federal jury in Boston indicted him in April of the same year. The investigation uncovered hundreds of AI-generated images of child sexual abuse on his iCloud account. The disturbing incidents occurred between January and September 2023, culminating in a dramatic revelation on September 2, 2023, when a 14-year-old girl discovered Thompson’s phone recording her in a bathroom during a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Boston.

How the crimes were committed

Thompson allegedly convinced the teenager to use the first-class restroom, escorting her there before the discovery. He entered the restroom first, claiming the toilet seat was broken, and had placed red stickers on the underside of the toilet seat lid to support this claim. However, his iPhone was secretly taped and hidden under these stickers to record unsuspecting victims. As DA Foley’s news release detailed, “The minor victim informed her parents of what she saw and showed them the picture upon returning to her seat. The victim’s father confronted Thompson, who then locked himself in the lavatory with his iPhone for three to five minutes before the flight’s descent.”

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Investigation and evidence

The investigation revealed that Thompson had recorded videos of girls aged 7, 9, 11, and 14 in airplane restrooms from January through September 2023. His iCloud account also contained over 50 images of a 9-year-old unaccompanied minor, including photos taken while she was seated and close-ups of her face while sleeping. All victims have been identified, and their families have been notified.

American Airlines’ response

In a controversial move, American Airlines initially blamed a 9-year-old victim for being filmed in an amended civil lawsuit filed in April 2024. Attorneys for the airline claimed Thompson was not acting within the scope of his employment during the incident. However, this stance was met with outrage from the victim’s attorney, Paul Llewellyn, who described it as “shocking and outrageous.” American Airlines later retracted this statement, admitting it was a mistake and changing its defense strategy.

Sentencing and aftermath

Thompson faces up to 30 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, 2025. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest. The guilty plea brings some closure to the families affected, but it also highlights the need for vigilance and accountability in preventing such heinous crimes. As Paul Llewellyn noted, “We are relieved to learn that the American Airlines flight attendant who targeted at least five young girls during their use of the airplane lavatory has confessed to his heinous acts.”

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