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Upon entering, she discovered multiple stickers indicating the bathroom was out of service and the phone taped in a way that exposed the camera and flash. She took a photo of the setup with her own phone and returned to her seat.

Following her discovery, Thompson reportedly entered the bathroom immediately after the girl and locked himself inside for five minutes before the plane’s descent. 

The girl's father confronted him, and the family reported the incident to the flight crew and captain, who alerted law enforcement upon landing. 

Although the flight attendant attempted to wipe his phone clean by restoring it to factory settings, police found evidence of his activities through a search of his suitcase. 

They also accessed his iCloud account, which contained videos of four other minor females and AI-generated child abuse images. Additionally, around 40 images of a sleeping unaccompanied child were found on Thompson’s computer.

Thompson was arrested in Lynchburg, Virginia, and has since been fired by American Airlines.

 "The deeply disturbing conduct alleged here is something no parent or child should ever have to worry about when they travel," said acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy in a statement. "Mr. Thompson allegedly used his position to prey on and surreptitiously record innocent children, including unaccompanied minors."

Thompson faces severe penalties if convicted, including 15-30 years for attempted sexual exploitation of children and 5-20 years for possession of child pornography. Both charges also carry the potential for lifetime supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution.

American Airlines' decision to hire Kelly Hart & Hallman underscores the airline's intent to address the case with renewed focus and sensitivity, following public outcry over the previous legal defense strategy. The case continues to unfold as the families affected seek justice and accountability for the grievous invasion of privacy and exploitation their children endured.