Did Kash Patel use $60 million FBI jet to watch his girlfriend sing at an event?

Kash Patel, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has found himself at the centre of controversy after reports surfaced claiming he used a taxpayer-funded jet to watch his girlfriend perform at a wrestling event.

According to a recent report citing flight records of a government-registered aircraft, Patel allegedly travelled to Nashville, Tennessee, over the weekend. The 45-year-old was seen at the Real American Freestyle event alongside his girlfriend, 26-year-old country singer Alexis Wilkins.

The sighting quickly drew attention online, with many questioning whether the FBI chief used government resources for personal reasons, especially at a time when the US is grappling with a government shutdown.

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Here’s a breakdown of what happened, what the rules say, and how the FBI has responded to the growing controversy.

What happened?

The controversy began when former FBI agent Kyle Seraphin alleged that Kash Patel used a $60 million FBI jet to travel over the weekend to watch his girlfriend perform.

Seraphin made the claims on X (formerly Twitter) and discussed them further on his podcast, accusing Patel of showing a “pattern of misuse of official resources.”

“Dear FBI Employees: I’m sorry the government ISN’T funded, so you won’t be getting a paycheck. Luckily, that doesn’t stop Real American Freestyle WRESTLING! So I flew the FBI jet to State College, PA, hung out with my chick, and then flew to Nashville, where she lives: Kash,” Seraphin wrote on X, alongside a photo of Patel and Wilkins at the event.

"Dear FBI Employees:

I'm sorry the government ISN'T funded, so you won't be getting a paycheck.

Luckily, that doesn't stop Real American Freestyle WRESTLING!

So I flew the FBI jet to State College PA, hung out with my chick, and then flew to Nashville where she lives." -Ka$h pic.twitter.com/tuOmWwO4Wk

— Kyle Seraphin (@KyleSeraphin) October 26, 2025

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According to flight data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft used is registered to the FBI’s national headquarters in Washington, DC, indicating it’s an official government jet. However, a passenger manifest has not been made public, leaving it uncertain whether Patel was actually on board.

Notably, just two and a half hours after landing in Pennsylvania, the same jet reportedly continued its route to Nashville, Tennessee, the city where Wilkins resides.

Also read: Why is FBI's Kash Patel under fire over the Charlie Kirk case?

Is Patel allowed to use the FBI jet personally? 

FBI directors are generally required to use official aircraft for security reasons, even for personal travel. However, they are also obligated to reimburse the government for such trips at the equivalent of commercial airfare rates.

In Kash Patel’s case, it remains unclear whether he has paid back the cost of his recent flight. According to Expedia estimates, a one-way commercial ticket from State College to Nashville costs around $239. But factoring in jet fuel, maintenance, and landing fees, the total cost to taxpayers could reach several thousand dollars per flight.

This isn’t the first time an FBI director has faced criticism for using government planes for non-official purposes. Both former directors, James Comey and Chris Wray, have previously come under fire for similar issues. Ironically, Patel himself was a vocal critic of Wray back in 2022, accusing him of misusing federal resources.

Now, Patel faces similar accusations from lawmakers, who allege that he’s been overusing government aircraft for personal travel. In his defence, Patel has said, “Congress made it mandatory” for him to use government planes for all travel.

Adding to the controversy, former FBI counterintelligence chief Frank Figliuzzi claimed earlier this year that Patel “spends more time in nightclubs than at the bureau’s headquarters”. Reports also suggest Patel divides his time between Washington, DC, and Las Vegas, a lifestyle insiders describe as contributing to growing “chaos” within the agency.

Also read: New Zealand police and spy bosses destroy Kash Patel's gifts: They were illegal

FBI official def****ends Kash Patel

An FBI spokesperson has come to Kash Patel’s defence, insisting that his travel followed all established protocols.

Ben Williamson, the assistant director for public affairs at the FBI, said Patel “pays a reimbursement in advance” whenever personal travel is involved, as required by policy.

Williamson also pointed out that Patel actively tries to reduce costs. He said, unlike previous directors such as Chris Wray and James Comey, who often flew out of Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA), Patel reportedly uses a government airfield instead, a move that the FBI official said is about 2.5 times cheaper.

He added that Patel has “significantly limited personal travel” and only takes time off occasionally to visit family, friends, or his girlfriend.

“He doesn’t do it often. He works far more full weekends than he does otherwise. And maybe most importantly — ask anyone who works for him, he’s on duty 24/7 regardless,” Williamson said in a statement.

With input from agencies