Families Sue American Airlines Over Flight Attendant Filming Minors

American Airlines is facing multiple lawsuits after flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III was convicted of secretly filming young girls in airplane lavatories during flights in 2023. Thompson used a hidden iPhone taped under toilet seats to record minors, including an 11-year-old girl on a flight from Orlando to Charlotte, violating their privacy and trust while on duty. The lawsuits allege that American Airlines negligently hired, supervised, and failed to investigate Thompson despite prior warnings and federal authorities' knowledge of his dangerous behavior. Thompson was sentenced to over 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. Families claim the airline did not implement proper background checks, restrict personal device use, or train crew members to identify and report suspicious conduct, which could have prevented further abuse. Despite the severity of the case and Thompson's conviction, American Airlines has yet to issue a public apology to the victims' families, prompting criticism from their legal representatives.