Overview
- Sony Pictures Television confirmed on Sept. 4 that it had terminated Jim Thornton’s employment after completing an internal investigation into allegations tied to an in‑flight incident.
- A passenger on American Airlines Flight 1276 on May 14 photographed Thornton using a laptop that TMZ later published, showing a chatroom whose messages prompted the onboard complaint and a law‑enforcement response at LAX.
- Authorities questioned Thornton after the May flight but did not arrest or charge him, and multiple outlets note the passenger‑taken photos have not been publicly authenticated by police.
- Thornton’s attorney says he was active in suicide‑prevention advocacy, that he was misdirected to a differently purposed forum (lifeline.chat), that he left when he realized its nature, and that he never viewed or downloaded illegal material.
- Producers have revoiced Thornton’s parts with an interim announcer so his voice will not appear on episodes for the Sept. 14 return, ending the role he held since 2011 and creating immediate production and reputational consequences.