American Airlines Blames Young Girl For Being Filmed In a Bathroom: Now They Change Their Tune
Flights can be one of the most stressful things to do, especially when traveling with your loved ones. From packing everything to ensuring that you and your family are safe, there is a lot that you have to keep in mind. Unfortunately, sometimes things can go awry on our travels, which is precisely what happened to this family. In a recent lawsuit, American Airlines blames a young girl for being filmed in the bathroom by a flight attendant.
In response to a lawsuit regarding filming a minor in a bathroom, American Airlines has blamed a young girl. The girl, Mary Doe, was reportedly filmed by a camera in a plane lavatory by flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III. Following his arrest and thorough investigation, the airline had initially released a statement that was more than troubling.
American Airlines blamed the young girl because “she knew or should have known [the lavatory] contained a visible and illuminated recording device.” Following this claim, the company faced intense backlash from the public. Following this, the company immediately made a response.
“The included defense is not representative of our airline, and we have directed it be amended this morning,” American Airlines said in January 2024. “We do not believe this child is at fault and take the allegations involving a former team member very seriously.”
The airline revoked its statements that limited its liability and reportedly fired the legal team responsible for creating the initial statement. The family’s lawyers referred to this behavior as “shocking” and “disgusting.” They believe the airline changed its tune in response to public backlash, not moral reasoning.
What Did The Flight Attendant Do?
These legal issues result from events on the flight back in September of 2023. The flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, reportedly enticed the young girl to use a first-class lavatory. Upon entering the lavatory, the girl noticed a camera taped upright to the toilet. With further investigation, it was clear that someone placed the camera to film people using the restroom.
She bravely took a photo of the phone for evidence and later told her parents about the incident. Authorities arrested the flight attendant after the incident, and the airline faced a negligence lawsuit. The family claimed that immediately following the incident, the airline failed to notify other attendants, confiscate the suspect’s phone, and generally respond with haste and care. This lawsuit was the reason the airline released its initial inflammatory statement.
Horrifyingly, further investigation of Thompson’s phone revealed that he had multiple videos of minors using the bathroom on American flights. These videos showed four other minors, including one as young as nine years old. Despite these troubling charges, American Airlines blamed the young girl initially.
As it stands, Estes Cater Thompson III now faces charges of attempted exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. He faces at least five years in prison, with his next court date scheduled for July 1st.
Detailed Charges of the Case
Concerning the various crimes that Estes Carter Thompson III is on trial for, there are a variety of charges he is facing. According to the District of Massachusetts State Attorney’s Office, the sentence of exploitation of children can dictate a sentence of 15 to 30 years. Furthermore, possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor carries a sentence of up to 20 years. Additionally, both charges also mandate a minimum of five years in prison. These charges may include a lifetime of supervised release, with a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution.
Public Response to American Airlines Blaming Young Girl
The recent statements and actions taken by American Airlines have more than concerned the general public. Immediately after the initial incident, people expressed concerns about how airlines handle such issues. The incident seemed to rekindle fears among travelers about flying with children on airlines.
Many people were also highly dissatisfied with the airline’s initial response to the incident, especially after the family disclosed their account of events. Alongside their statement, public outrage ensued, prompting the airline to retract and revise its statement.
Regarding their latest statements, many remain confused and displeased. Following the family’s and their lawyers’ claims, people are questioning the true motives behind American Airlines’ shift in stance. With these developments in mind, it raises significant questions about the level of trust we should place in our airlines.