FBI Director Kash Patel takes agency jet to Italy, plans to attend Olympic hockey games, sources say [View all]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: February 19, 2026 / 5:19 PM EST / CBS News


FBI Director Kash Patel, whose use of a government jet has frequently come under scrutiny, flew on a Justice Department plane Thursday to Italy with plans to attend the Olympic hockey medal rounds, according to public data and sources familiar with the matter.

Public flight data reviewed by CBS News showed the FBI director took off on a government plane Thursday morning for an Air Force base in Italy, after a brief flight from Manassas, Virginia, to Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland Wednesday. Sources also confirmed to CBS News that Patel was en route to Milan, where he is planning to watch the Men's USA Olympic hockey team compete in the medal rounds.

Patel separately sent several posts on social media on Thursday morning in support of the American hockey teams. Patel's plane landed in Italy Thursday evening, local time, according to a source at Flight Radar 24. As part of the trip, Patel is also scheduled to take part in meetings with law enforcement counterparts in Italy, one of the sources added.

FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson, who did not respond to requests for information about the trip before CBS News published this article, said on X afterward, " (I)t's not a personal trip. Director Patel is on a trip that was planned months ago. It includes: partner meetings with Italian law enforcement and security officials (they invited the Director last July), meeting with Ambassador Fertitta (as a follow up to our law enforcement roundtable he hosted in January), meetings with Legat staff, and more."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-director-kash-patel-ice-hockey-flies-agency-jet-to-olympic-hockey-finals-italy/