In a disturbing case, a former flight attendant for American Airlines, hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, has accepted responsibility for recording videos of young girls using aircraft bathrooms. The individual, aged 37, pleaded guilty to charges including attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse imagery involving a prepubescent minor.
The incident involving the 14-year-old victim unfolded on a September 2023 flight from Charlotte to Boston. While trying to use the main cabin restroom, the girl discovered it was occupied. The accused then directed her to a first-class lavatory, after mentioning he needed to wash his hands and that the toilet seat was allegedly broken.
Once the teen was inside, she noticed red stickers on the toilet seat lid with inscriptions like “inoperative catering equipment” and “seat broken.” Investigators revealed that hidden beneath these stickers was an iPhone, set to record. Quick-thinking, the girl took a photo of the setup with her phone before exiting the lavatory.
A representative from the law firm Lewis & Llewellyn, which is handling the lawsuits for the victim and another girl, expressed relief at the guilty plea. They praised the efforts of the US Attorney’s Office in securing justice for the young survivors.
Besides reaching a settlement for the 14-year-old’s lawsuit with American Airlines, the firm is preparing for a July trial regarding another case involving a 9-year-old victim from Texas.
Further investigation by prosecutors uncovered a trove of child sexual abuse images in Thompson’s iCloud, some generated with artificial intelligence. Images of different girls utilizing the plane lavatories on past flights were also found, involving ages ranging from 7 to 14.
After the discovery, American Airlines immediately took action by suspending Thompson. He has not been employed by them since the incident came to light.
Legal repercussions for the charges include a potential sentence ranging from 15 to 30 years for attempted sexual exploitation, and a maximum of 20 years for possession of child sexual abuse material. The court also mandates a minimum of five years under supervised release, possible fines up to $250,000, and restitution.
The sentencing is set for June 17, where the court will determine the final penalty for Thompson’s actions.