Afrigather 
A flight attendant has been accused of secretly recording a 9-year-old lady whereas she used the lavatory aboard an American Airways flight.
Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, was arrested in January after a 14-year-old lady from North Carolina observed an iPhone taped to the bathroom on the flight he was engaged on and alerted her dad and mom.
The FBI then discovered different victims after looking out his gadgets and iCloud. Among the many abuse pictures had been a few of a nine-year-old lady from Texas whose dad and mom at the moment are suing each Thomson and American Airways, per paperwork seen by DailyMail.
Within the lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, the lady’s dad and mom declare Thompson took pictures of the lady in January 2023, as she used the lavatory of the flight heading to Los Angeles. The lady and her household had been on their solution to Disney World and a gymnastics competitors.
The pictures, recovered from Thompson’s iCloud by the FBI, confirmed the lady’s face, buttocks, and genitals, in response to the criticism.
‘It felt like we had been dwelling in a nightmare when the FBI confirmed up on our doorstep to inform us that our daughter had been secretly filmed by an American Airways flight attendant. Since then, our daughter has struggled with worry and anxiousness,’ the lady’s household advised DailyMail.com in an announcement.
‘We’re doing every thing we will to assist her throughout this traumatic time. An vital a part of our household’s therapeutic is ensuring that the flight attendants and American Airways are held accountable for what occurred to our daughter. We hope that this lawsuit is step one in ensuring nothing like this ever occurs to a different household.’
Police have beforehand stated that Thomson, from North Carolina, had recordings of 4 different minor feminine passengers utilizing toilets on an plane he had labored on beforehand.
Thompson was charged with tried sexual exploitation of kids and possession of kid sexual abuse pictures depicting a prepubescent minor.
Investigators stated that about halfway by way of the September 2, 2023, flight from Charlotte to Boston, the 14-year-old bought up to make use of the principle cabin bathroom nearest to her seat however discovered it was occupied.
Thompson then advised her the first-class bathroom was unoccupied and escorted her there, investigators stated. Earlier than she entered the lavatory, Thompson allegedly advised her he wanted to scrub his fingers and that the bathroom seat was damaged.
After he left, the teenager entered the lavatory and noticed crimson stickers on the underside of the bathroom seat lid, which was within the open place, stating, ‘INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT’, ‘REMOVE FROM SERVICE’ and ‘SEAT BROKEN’ handwritten in black ink on one of many stickers, in response to courtroom paperwork.
Beneath the stickers, Thompson had hid his iPhone to report a video, investigators stated. The lady used her telephone to take an image of the stickers and hid the iPhone earlier than leaving. Thompson then instantly went again into the lavatory.
The lady advised her dad and mom and her father confronted Thompson, who locked himself within the bathroom along with his iPhone for 3 to 5 minutes earlier than the flight´s descent, investigators stated.
The minor’s dad and mom additionally knowledgeable different flight attendants and the captain was notified. The captain then contacted legislation enforcement on the bottom.
When the flight landed, police stated Thompson’s telephone might have been restored to manufacturing unit settings whereas he was locked within the rest room.
A search of Thompson´s suitcase discovered 11 ‘INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT’ stickers, investigators stated. A search of his iCloud account allegedly revealed 4 extra situations between January and August 2023 by which Thompson recorded a minor utilizing the bathroom on an plane.
These depicted within the recordings had been 7, 9, 11 and 14 years outdated on the time, investigators stated. Greater than 50 pictures of an unaccompanied 9-year-old had been additionally present in his account, together with close-ups of her face whereas she slept in her seat.
The 14-year-old’s household have additionally filed a lawsuit towards Thomson and the airline.
Police additionally say they discovered ‘pictures of AI-generated youngster pornography’ on Thompson’s iCloud account.
American Airways issued an announcement saying they take the allegation very significantly. Additionally they stated the flight attendant was ‘instantly withheld from service following the September 2023 incident’ and hasn´t labored since.
‘They don´t replicate our airline or our core mission of caring for individuals,’ the assertion learn. ‘We’ve been absolutely cooperating with legislation enforcement in its investigation as there’s nothing extra vital than the protection and safety of our clients and staff.’
