Grimy Times Exclusive: Flight Attendant’s Lavatory Recordings Earn Him 18.5 Years

BOSTON – The skies weren’t safe for young female passengers when Estes Carter Thompson III was on duty. The 38-year-old former American Airlines flight attendant was sentenced yesterday to 18.5 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor. Thompson used his position of trust to turn airplane restrooms into clandestine recording studios, preying on vulnerable girls and leaving a trail of trauma in his wake.

The depravity unfolded on September 2, 2023, during an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, N.C., to Boston. Thompson surreptitiously attached his iPhone to the underside of a lavatory toilet seat lid, using red “INOPERATIVE EQUIPMENT” stickers to secure it. He then activated the camera with the flashlight on, intending to record a 14-year-old female passenger. But a brave 14-year-old caught him in the act. Her quick thinking and reporting to her parents and flight staff brought the scheme crashing down. When confronted, Thompson locked himself in the lavatory and attempted to wipe the evidence by restoring his iPhone to factory settings.

“Mr. Thompson took advantage of his position of trust as a flight attendant to exploit innocent children – directing them to an aircraft bathroom he had set up to record them and then revisiting those videos for his own sexual gratification,” stated United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “In so doing, he shattered five children’s sense of safety and trust in the world around them, leaving them instead with fear, mistrust, insecurity and sadness.” The investigation quickly revealed this wasn’t an isolated incident. A search of Thompson’s suitcase at Boston’s Logan Airport turned up eleven of the “INOPERATIVE EQUIPMENT” stickers.

A deeper dive into Thompson’s iCloud account uncovered four additional recordings of minor females using aircraft lavatories on flights between January and August 2023. The victims ranged in age from six to fourteen. These disturbing videos were captured on flights from Charlotte, N.C. to Denver, Co.; Charlotte, N.C. to Kansas City, Mo.; Orlando, Fla. to Charlotte, N.C. and Charlotte, N.C. to Washington D.C. The FBI’s Boston Division played a crucial role in unraveling the full extent of Thompson’s sickening behavior. “Estes Carter Thompson thought he had a no-fail plan to sexually exploit children for his own gratification, until a brave 14-year-old girl thwarted his plan, and worked with us to put an end to his deviant behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks.

The Massachusetts State Police were also quick to respond, securing vital evidence at Logan Airport. “Their diligence and proactive collaboration with FBI Boston stopped this individual from continuing a sustained pattern of child exploitation,” said Colonel Geoffrey Noble. The young victim’s family is being hailed for empowering their daughter to speak up, a crucial step in bringing Thompson to justice. While no sentence can truly repair the damage Thompson inflicted, authorities hope this outcome offers some measure of closure to the victims and their families.

Thompson, formerly of Charlotte, N.C., will now spend the next 18.5 years paying for his monstrous actions. His case serves as a chilling reminder of the predators who can hide in plain sight and the importance of vigilance and speaking out against abuse. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.