Detectives questioned the pilot early Friday morning at the Police Special Victims Unit in West Kensington, then released him.
They expect to charge him after getting a warrant that will allow them to look for pictures on his cell phone.
Witnesses at the airport told officers that they saw the pilot using his cell phone camera to take pictures up the skirt of the 16-year-old.
Witnesses say it happened around 7:15 on Thursday night, while the teen was shopping in Terminal C.
The pilot is facing misdemeanor charges of taking obscene pictures.
