Lawsuit claims flight attendant filmed Austin child in American Airlines plane bathroom
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A lawsuit was filed against American Airlines and a former employee in connection with an incident where a 9-year-old child was secretly recorded while they used a plane bathroom.
According to documents dated Tuesday, the victim boarded an American Airlines plane in Austin with her parents in January 2023.
“During the flight, she was secretly filmed while using the airplane toilet. Shockingly, the person who filmed her was an airline flight attendant whom she inherently trusted due to his position of authority, and who had been tasked with ensuring her safety,” the lawsuit said.
KXAN reached out to American Airlines Thursday for comment on the lawsuit. This story will be updated when we receive a response.
According to documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation later notified the family that still images and videos of the child’s face and body were stored and recovered from the flight attendant’s iCloud account.
The flight attendant was identified as 37-year-old Estes Carter Thompson III. Documents said he was in federal custody and faced charges of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography depicting prepubescent minors.
“The child has suffered severe emotional distress as a result of the incident including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, fearfulness, insomnia and nightmares. This emotional distress has had a fundamental impact on her interpersonal relationships, her schooling, and her ability to function in the world,” the lawsuit said.
Documents said the victim sought monetary relief, including costs, expenses, and attorney fees, that exceeded $1 million.