The scandal that cost longtime “Wheel of Fortune” announcer Jim Thornton his television career has taken another unexpected turn, with a woman at the center of the controversy reportedly claiming she has never heard from the FBI, despite being told federal investigators would contact her.

Nearly six months after a troubling encounter aboard a commercial flight sparked a police response and eventually led to Thornton’s firing, questions remain about what happened after authorities questioned the veteran television personality.

According to a new report from TMZ published Monday, October 26, sources close to the female passenger say she is still waiting for federal authorities to reach out about photographs she took of Thornton’s laptop during an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Los Angeles on May 14.

The woman reportedly provided those photographs and a statement to the Los Angeles Police Department after the aircraft landed. She was allegedly informed that her information would be forwarded to the FBI and that federal investigators would contact her.

But according to the latest account, that conversation never happened.

The FBI has declined to confirm whether it is investigating Thornton. When contacted by TMZ shortly before the latest report, a bureau representative reiterated the agency’s longstanding policy of neither confirming nor denying the existence of investigations.

The controversy began when the passenger reportedly noticed disturbing messages appearing on Thornton’s computer screen during the flight. Photographs she took appeared to show the announcer accessing an online discussion forum associated with people experiencing sexual attraction to children.

Some of the messages referenced minors and included language the passenger interpreted as potentially referring to illegal child sexual abuse material. Alarmed by what she saw, the woman photographed the screen before notifying a flight attendant and sharing her concerns with the crew.

The situation escalated when the flight’s captain reportedly contacted authorities, prompting law enforcement to meet the aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport.

American Airlines subsequently confirmed that Flight 1276 was met by officers following concerns raised by a passenger, although the airline did not publicly identify Thornton.

Authorities briefly questioned the announcer after landing, but he was released without being arrested or charged with a crime.

Thornton, 61, has strongly denied engaging in wrongdoing. His attorney, Allison Hart, previously explained that he became involved in suicide-prevention advocacy following the death of a close family member and regularly visited online support forums to help people experiencing emotional crises.

According to Hart, Thornton was directed to the controversial website by an acquaintance and did not initially understand its purpose. She maintained that he left once he realized what the site involved.

The attorney also insisted that Thornton never viewed or downloaded illegal child abuse material and that police determined no crime had occurred during their brief questioning.

However, photographs obtained by TMZ reportedly contained timestamps spanning at least 57 minutes, raising questions about the amount of time Thornton spent accessing the forum. Those timestamps do not, by themselves, establish whether he participated continuously or authored the troubling messages visible on the screen.

The fallout was nevertheless swift once the allegations became public months after the flight.

Sony Pictures Television suspended Thornton on September 1, announcing that it was investigating the allegations and making arrangements to replace him. Just three days later, the company confirmed that his employment with “Wheel of Fortune” had been terminated following its internal investigation.

The decision brought an abrupt end to nearly 15 years as the familiar voice of one of America’s most beloved game shows.

Thornton joined “Wheel of Fortune” in 2011 after the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell. Although he rarely appeared on camera, his voice became a recognizable part of the program through contestant introductions and prize announcements.

His departure also created an unexpected disruption for the show’s production team, with previously recorded material requiring changes as the program moved forward without its longtime announcer.

Now, the latest revelation has renewed attention on the questions surrounding the original incident, particularly whether the passenger’s account received any additional scrutiny after she spoke with Los Angeles police.

Importantly, the reported lack of contact does not establish that the FBI opened an investigation, abandoned one, or declined to review the information. Federal authorities have not publicly disclosed whether a case exists, and no criminal charges against Thornton have been announced.

For Thornton, the professional consequences have already been substantial. But months after the photographs first sparked controversy, the conflicting accounts surrounding that flight remain unresolved publicly.

And with the woman who raised the initial alarm reportedly still waiting for a call from federal investigators, the latest development leaves a significant question unanswered: What, if anything, happened to the information she provided after the plane landed?

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