A male American Airlines flight attendant was removed from a plane by police after a teenage girl allegedly found a camera hidden in a first-class toilet.
The alleged incident is said to have happened on an American Airlines flight 1441 which was travelling from Charlotte, North Carolina to Boston on September 2 after Massachusetts State Police responded to a 'potential criminal act' at around 10 am.
A trooper with the Massachusetts State Police Troop F, which is based out of Logan International Airport, revealed the incident involved a young child, a phone, and a flight attendant. A passenger who was on the flight reportedly saw a young girl walk to the plane’s first-class toilet before she was stopped by a male flight attendant.
“He stopped her and said, ‘Hey, hold on just a second. We’re about to start collecting trash so I’m going to wash my hands.’ So he went in the bathroom and then she went to the bathroom,” the passenger explained to Boston 25 News.
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Red Arrow pilot forced to send out emergency alert after bird smashes into jetThe passenger believes this is when the alleged 'criminal act' took place. He said after the girl came out, other passengers saw the flight attendant go back in. He says the girl’s mum came running up to the toilet to stop another person from going in. “The mum came up, she stopped the other lady from going into the bathroom. She said ‘Don’t go in there,’” the passenger said.
The unnamed passenger said he was told the mom was saying there was a camera in the bathroom, he added: "After 3 or 4 different people checked the bathroom, they took the male flight attendant off, and that's when they let us off."
A Massachusetts State Police spokesperson said because the alleged incident happened mid-flight, it falls under federal jurisdiction. The FBI confirmed it responded to the alleged incident but could not provide any more information as the investigation is still ongoing.
“FBI Boston responded along with the Massachusetts State Police. We have no additional information to provide at this time,” a statement from the agency reads. American Airlines said the flight was met by law enforcement on arrival and they are cooperating with police. Federal investigators have taken over the investigation.
“American Airlines flight 1441 from Charlotte (CLT) to Boston (BOS) was met by law enforcement upon arrival. We take this matter very seriously and are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation, as safety and security are our highest priorities,” a spokesperson for the airline said.