Attorney: Airline ‘should be ashamed’ over bathroom recording case
- A flight attendant was arrested after phone found taped to plane toilet seat
- The airline argues it cannot be liable for the actions of its employees
- Attorney: "It is time for American Airlines to accept responsibility"
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(NewsNation) — Outrage is mounting against American Airlines as the company attempts to distance itself legally from the alleged misconduct of one of its flight attendants.
Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, is facing charges of sexually exploiting children and possessing child pornography, with prosecutors alleging that he took illicit pictures of underage girls while working on American Airlines flights.
The disturbing allegations surfaced after Thompson was arrested for allegedly attempting to record a 14-year-old girl in an airplane bathroom last September.
The teenager, upon discovering Thompson’s phone taped to the toilet seat, alerted her parents, leading to his arrest upon landing.
Subsequent investigations by the FBI uncovered further illicit images of underage girls, including a nine-year-old, all captured in airplane bathrooms.
Thompson and American Airlines now face lawsuits from the families of both victims, who contend the airline should have known about Thompson’s dangerous behavior.
However, American Airlines is seeking dismissal from the suits, arguing it cannot be held liable for the actions of its employees.
Paul Llewellyn, attorney for the families of the young passengers, joined “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” to discuss the case, saying, “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare for this to happen to their to their daughters.”
Llewellyn condemned American Airlines’ attempts to evade responsibility.
“It is absolutely outrageous,” he said. “They should be ashamed of themselves. And why instead of filing these these frivolous motions, in my view, don’t they finally take responsibility.”
Llewellyn questioned the company’s screening process for hiring flight attendants and emphasized the need for accountability.
“It is time for American Airlines to accept responsibility for what happened,” he said. “And if they don’t accept responsibility, I’m very confident that a North Carolina jury and a Texas jury will hold American Airlines fully responsible for this.”