American Airlines is facing a civil lawsuit filed by a 9-year-old girl, known as Mary Doe, who was allegedly secretly filmed while using the bathroom on a flight. The recording device was reportedly placed there by a former employee, Estes Carter Thompson, who is also facing federal charges of child sexual exploitation. The incident occurred during a flight from Austin, Texas, to Los Angeles, California. Initially, American Airlines blamed the girl for using the lavatory with the visible and illuminated recording device, but later changed their response after public backlash.
American Airlines has requested that its law firm change its legal response to the lawsuit, stating that the defense claiming the girl was at fault is not representative of the airline’s beliefs. The company has stated that they do not believe the child is at fault and take the allegations involving the former employee seriously. The girl’s attorney, Paul Llewellyn, criticized the airline’s initial legal strategy, calling it “depraved” and “shocking.” The child’s mother expressed disbelief that the airline would blame her daughter for being filmed, instead of taking responsibility for the incident.
The former American Airlines flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson, has been indicted on federal charges, including sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. Federal investigators discovered additional videos on Thompson’s iCloud account showing four more minors, including a 9-year-old, using the bathroom on American Airlines flights. In another incident involving a 14-year-old known as Jane Doe, parents filed a complaint in North Carolina, alleging that American Airlines’ failure to immediately confiscate the flight attendant’s phone and notify the pilots allowed the destruction of evidence and exacerbated the harm suffered by the plaintiff.
The complaint filed by Jane Doe’s parents alleges that American Airlines’ conduct led to significant emotional distress and damages for the victim, who is seeking relief. Thompson was arraigned in Massachusetts and is scheduled to reappear in court on July 1. The airline’s handling of the situation has come under scrutiny, with critics questioning why they did not take immediate action to address the issue and prevent further harm to the victims. Both the 9-year-old girl and the 14-year-old victim have experienced trauma as a result of being filmed without their consent on an American Airlines flight, leading to legal action against the airline.
The Department of Justice has been involved in the investigation into Thompson’s actions, and federal prosecutors in Massachusetts have uncovered evidence of multiple instances of child exploitation on American Airlines flights. The victims and their families are seeking justice and accountability from both the former employee and the airline for their roles in the illicit recordings. The legal response from American Airlines has been criticized for initially blaming the young girl for the incident, rather than taking responsibility and addressing the issue in a more appropriate manner. The case highlights the importance of protecting minors and ensuring their safety while traveling on airlines.
