A senior United States official identified by sources as Patel traveled to Italy on an FBI aircraft and is expected to attend medal-round games of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, according to multiple individuals familiar with the trip.
The flight used a jet operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the sources said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss travel details publicly. The exact date and time of the flight were not disclosed. The specific departure location in the United States also was not made public.
The sources stated that Patel’s schedule in Italy includes plans to watch games involving the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team in the medal stages of the tournament. They did not specify which medal-round contests he intends to attend. Official Olympic schedules show that medal-round hockey games typically include semifinals and medal matches.
Officials from the FBI did not respond to requests for comment on the use of the jet. U.S. government policy on official travel often allows the use of government aircraft for certain categories of officials. The sources did not say whether this trip was classified as official business, personal travel, or a mix of both.
The sources did not describe any formal meetings on Patel’s schedule in Italy aside from the planned Olympic hockey attendance. They did not provide information about the length of stay or any security arrangements. No details were given about who accompanied Patel on the aircraft or whether other U.S. officials were part of the delegation.
The Olympic Games host city in Italy for the winter events has drawn increased attention from governments, security agencies, and international organizations. The sources did not state whether Patel’s presence was related to any security or law enforcement coordination at the Games.
Officials in Italy responsible for Olympic operations and security did not immediately respond to inquiries about visits by U.S. officials linked to the FBI. It was not clear whether Italian authorities were notified in advance of Patel’s attendance at the medal-round hockey games. No Italian government department publicly listed the visit on its schedules.
The Olympic men’s hockey tournament has drawn high interest from U.S. audiences. The United States men’s team routinely advances to late-stage competition in international tournaments. The sources who described the travel said Patel’s plans centered on the medal rounds, where outcomes determine final standings and medal placements.
Public flight-tracking data for U.S. government aircraft are often restricted for security reasons. Independent confirmation of the FBI jet’s flight path and passenger manifest was not available from open sources at the time the sources described the trip. The individuals did not identify the tail number of the aircraft or the U.S. airfield where the flight originated.
No U.S. federal agency has issued a public statement about Patel’s travel to Italy for the Olympic hockey medal rounds. The trip has not appeared on published public calendars or official travel advisories. The sources did not provide documents supporting their account and relied on their knowledge of internal travel arrangements.
