11-Year-Old’s Parents File Lawsuit Against American Airlines for Attendant Misconduct

CHARLOTTE- The family of an 11-year-old girl, who was secretly recorded in an airplane restroom by a flight attendant, has launched a lawsuit against American Airlines for negligence. This incident reportedly took place during American Airlines flight AA2080, which flew from Orlando to Charlotte in August 2023.

The accused, flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III, is currently serving 18.5 years in federal prison. His arrest followed attempts to film another girl on a subsequent flight from Charlotte to Boston, which subsequently led to the discovery of multiple victims.

Lawsuit Against American Airlines

The civil lawsuit, lodged in a North Carolina district court, claims that American Airlines neglected to safeguard its passengers by employing Thompson without adequate screening processes. The family’s attorneys argue that the airline either was aware or should have been aware of Thompson’s inappropriate behavior.

The suit alleges that American Airlines failed to conduct a comprehensive criminal background check before hiring Thompson and did not supervise him correctly. It also states that the airline did not provide sufficient training for crew members to recognize and report concerning behavior among colleagues.

Thompson reportedly used his iPhone to record multiple young girls in airplane restrooms, including during the August 2023 flight from Orlando to Charlotte. He concealed the device under a sticker on the toilet seat to capture footage of passengers in the First Class restroom.

FBI Investigation Reveals Additional Victims

Thompson’s arrest followed a report from a 14-year-old passenger who spotted the concealed phone on a flight from Charlotte to Boston in September 2023. The girl promptly informed her parents, who alerted federal authorities upon landing in Boston.

The subsequent FBI investigation revealed sexually explicit images of three other victims, aged 7, 9, and 11, stored on Thompson’s iCloud account. One victim was identified in October 2023 when FBI agents approached her family in North Carolina to discuss the recordings.

According to the lawsuit, the parents of the 11-year-old were shown explicit images of their daughter that were captured during a flight. After consulting with a therapist, they chose to inform her about the incident. Since then, she has experienced PTSD, anxiety, and remains apprehensive about using public restrooms nearly two years later.

American Airlines’ Legal Issues

This incident is not the only legal challenge American Airlines is currently facing tied to Thompson’s actions. In 2024, the family of another victim, a 9-year-old girl, also filed a lawsuit against the airline. Initially, the airline sought to dismiss the case, claiming they were not liable for Thompson’s actions.

Things escalated when a legal document from the airline’s counsel suggested that the young victim shared some responsibility because she should have recognized the lavatory conditions. Following public outcry, the airline opted to terminate their association with that law firm.

Thompson is scheduled for a court appearance in Boston in October 2025 to determine the amount of restitution he will owe to his victims. However, the girl’s family maintains that merely penalizing Thompson is insufficient; they insist that American Airlines must also be held accountable for this disturbing incident.