An American Airways flight attendant was arrested on allegations that he tried to file a teenage passenger whereas she used the toilet, the U.S. Legal professional mentioned.
On Thursday, the FBI arrested Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, in Virginia and charged him with one depend of tried sexual exploitation of kids and one depend of possession of kid pornography depicting a prepubescent minor, CBS Information reported.
The flight attendant is accused of attempting to movie a 14-year-old lady as she used the toilet on a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina to Boston, Massachusetts.
{The teenager} allegedly discovered a cellphone that was hid with stickers connected to the bathroom seat lid after Thompson informed her the bathroom seat was damaged.
Authorities say the lady’s father confronted Thompson, who had locked himself within the rest room along with his telephone for 3 to 5 minutes.
When the airplane lander, police mentioned Thompson’s cellphone had been restored to manufacturing facility setting.
Nevertheless, Thompson’s iCloud account was nonetheless searchable and police allegedly discovered 4 extra movies when Thompson recorded a toddler utilizing the airplane rest room and greater than 50 pictures of a 9-year-old unaccompanied minor, which additionally included photographs taken of her whereas she was sleeping.
Authorities additionally found a whole lot of pictures of AI-generated pictures of kid intercourse abuse on Thompson’s iCloud account.
“The deeply disturbing conduct alleged right here is one thing no father or mother or baby ought to ever have to fret about after they journey. Mr. Thompson allegedly used his place to prey on and surreptitiously file harmless kids, together with unaccompanied minors, whereas in a susceptible state aboard flights he was working,” mentioned performing U.S. Legal professional Josh Levy in a press release.
The 14-year-old who allegedly discovered Thompson’s cellphone and her household have since sued American Airways, claiming Thompson was in a position to destroy proof as a result of different crew members didn’t confiscate his telephone.
“We’re happy to listen to that the American Airways flight attendant has lastly been arrested. It is usually surprising to listen to that he allegedly preyed on a minimum of 5 minors whereas they had been flying on American. Whereas the felony justice system should now run its course towards the flight attendant, it stays to be seen whether or not American Airways will now lastly take some measure of accountability to the households for what occurred. This could by no means have been allowed to occur and mustn’t ever occur once more,” mentioned lawyer, Paul Llewellyn, who’s representing the teenager.
American Airways mentioned Thompson hasn’t labored for them because the incident.
“We take these allegations very significantly. They don’t mirror our airline or our core mission of caring for folks. Now we have been totally cooperating with regulation enforcement in its investigation as there may be nothing extra necessary than the protection and safety of our clients and group,” the airline mentioned in a press release.
