Airline employee covertly filming underage girls in airplane restrooms receives 18.5-year prison sentence, according to law enforcement.
In a courtroom in Boston, Estes Carter Thompson III, a former American Airlines flight attendant, was sentenced to 18.5 years in federal prison on July 23, 2025, for secretly filming young girls in airplane bathrooms over a 9-month period[1][2][3][4].
Thompson pleaded guilty earlier in March 2025 to charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors[1][4]. The case gained public attention after a 14-year-old girl discovered a hidden recording device in a first-class lavatory during a flight from Charlotte to Boston in September 2023; investigators confirmed the girl was escorted there by Thompson who misled her about the main cabin restroom being unavailable[2].
The sentencing memorandum submitted in court by US government attorneys stated that Thompson "robbed five young girls of their innocence and belief in the goodness of the world and the people they would encounter, instead leaving them with fear, mistrust, insecurity, and sadness"[1].
Thompson, from Charlotte, North Carolina, had recordings of four other girls between the ages of 7 and 14 using aircraft lavatories[1]. The charges against Thompson were related to these incidents involving five young girls on aircraft[1].
At the sentencing, Thompson apologised in court, describing his actions as "selfish, perverse, and wrong"[2]. Judge Julia Kobick called Thompson's behaviour "appalling" and emphasised the profound impact on the child victims[2].
Thompson will serve his sentence at FMC Butner in North Carolina. Following his release, he will be subject to five years of supervised release[1][2][3]. Thompson's attorneys have stated that he intends to undergo sex offender-specific treatment[1].
This information represents the latest update on Thompson’s criminal case and sentencing. Families of some victims have already filed lawsuits against Thompson and American Airlines[2].
[1] Boston Globe. (2025, July 23). Ex-flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III sentenced to 18.5 years in prison for secretly filming young girls on airplanes. Retrieved from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/23/metro/ex-flight-attendant-estes-carter-thompson-iii-sentenced-18-5-years-prison-secretly-filming-young-girls-airplanes/
[2] CBS News. (2025, July 23). Former American Airlines flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III sentenced to 18.5 years in prison for secretly filming young girls on airplanes. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/estes-carter-thompson-iii-sentenced-to-18-5-years-in-prison-for-secretly-filming-young-girls-on-airplanes/
[3] NBC News. (2025, July 23). Ex-American Airlines flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III sentenced to 18.5 years in prison for secretly filming young girls on airplanes. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ex-american-airlines-flight-attendant-estes-carter-thompson-iii-sentenced-n1342143
[4] Associated Press. (2025, July 23). Ex-American Airlines flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III sentenced to 18.5 years in prison for secretly filming young girls on airplanes. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/estes-carter-thompson-iii-american-airlines-flight-attendant-airplanes-sexual-abuse-children-boston-courts-702e20f7f4b77c8f1df98dae4e2292f7
- The sentence for Estes Carter Thompson III, a former American Airlines flight attendant, not only impacted the criminal justice system, but also sparked discussions in health-and-wellness and sexual-health circles, as his crimes left a lasting psychological impact on his child victims.
- Apart from general news coverage, the case of Estes Carter Thompson III turned out to be a significant point of interest in the science community, as researchers have been studying the long-term effects of such traumatic experiences on developing minds to better understand and address the issue of child exploitation.
