After initially blaming a 9-year-old girl for using an airplane restroom where a recording device was allegedly placed by a former employee, American Airlines has now requested its law firm to change its legal response.
The airline was responding to a civil lawsuit filed against it, claiming the girl, referred to as Mary Doe, was “secretly filmed while using the airplane toilet” during a flight in January 2023. Former flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson, 37, is also named in the lawsuit. Thompson is facing federal charges for allegedly recording several minors in airplane restrooms.
The incident involving Mary Doe occurred on a flight from Austin, Texas, to Los Angeles, California. American Airlines initially argued that the girl was at fault for using a lavatory with a visible and illuminated recording device.
American Airlines stated that the filing was made in error by outside counsel retained by its insurance company. The airline clarified, “The included defense is not representative of our airline, and we have directed it be amended this morning. We do not believe this child is at fault and we take the allegations involving a former team member very seriously.”
Attorney Paul Llewellyn, representing the girl and her family, believes American Airlines’ change in direction was prompted by public backlash. He criticized the airline’s initial legal strategy, calling it “depraved” and “shocking.”
The child’s mother expressed her outrage, stating, “How in good conscience could they even make such a suggestion?”
Former Flight Attendant’s Alleged Crimes
Thompson was indicted last month in Massachusetts on charges including sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. During the investigation, federal prosecutors discovered additional videos on Thompson’s iCloud account showing four minors, including the 9-year-old, using the restroom on American Airlines flights between January and August 2023.
Parents of a 14-year-old girl, referred to as Jane Doe, who was also allegedly filmed by Thompson, filed a complaint against American Airlines in North Carolina. The complaint criticizes the airline’s response to the incident, stating that the failure to immediately confiscate Thompson’s phone and notify the pilots allowed the destruction of evidence.
Jane Doe’s family claims she has suffered significant emotional distress due to the incident and is seeking relief. Thompson was arraigned on Monday and is scheduled to reappear in court on July 1 in Boston, Massachusetts.