American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a 9-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory. The 9-year-old's family flew from Texas to California on American last year and sued the airline after the FBI told them that videos of the girl were found on the flight attendant's phone. In response to the lawsuit, American said in a court document that it would dispute the family's claim by showing that any injuries the 9-year-old girl suffered were caused by the girl's "own fault and negligence, were proximately caused by use of the compromised lavatory, which she knew or should have known contained a visible and illuminated recording device.” An American spokesperson said Thursday that outside lawyers working for the company “made an error in this filing.” “We do not believe this child is at fault, and we take the allegations involving a former team member very seriously,” the spokesperson said.