FBI director faces criticism for using government jet for personal trip, fires senior official

FBI Director Kash Patel is facing public criticism after revelations he used a government jet for personal travel to meet his girlfriend, leading to the dismissal of a senior official who oversaw the bureau's aviation unit.

Flight records show a $60 million FBI jet traveled from Virginia to Nashville, Tennessee on October 25, coinciding with a performance by Patel's girlfriend Alexis Wilkins.

Steven Palmer, a 27-year veteran official responsible for supervising the FBI aviation unit, was reportedly fired following the incident.

While FBI regulations permit the director to use government aircraft for personal travel by paying equivalent economy class airfare, the timing during a US government shutdown has drawn media criticism about misuse of public resources.

FBI senior public affairs officials have publicly defended the director's actions amid growing scrutiny.