Feds Investigating Mayor Adams Free Turkish Flight Upgrades: Report

NEW YORK CITY — These skies might have been a bit too friendly.

Federal prosecutors and the FBI are reportedly examining flight upgrades Mayor Eric Adams received while traveling with Turkish Airlines, reports the New York Times.

According to the report, federal officials believe Mayor Adams received the seat upgrades for free.

The upgrades elevated Hizzoner into the airline's highest tier of luxury accommodations, which feature amenities like private, lie-flat seats, custom Ferragamo travel bag sets and meals from an onboard chef.

Adams, the New York Times reports, has attended meetings and events with reps from the partially state-owned Turkish Airlines.

Feds may have evidence that former airline executive, Cenk Öcal, helped arrange some of the free upgrades, according to the Times report.

A lawyer for Adams and his 2021 campaign told the Times that nothing "improper" took place.

“As borough president, the mayor consistently disclosed his official travel to Turkey, did not receive any improper upgrades and did nothing inappropriate in exchange for an upgrade,” the attorney Brendan McGuire told the Times. “Speculation is not evidence. We look forward to a just and timely conclusion to this investigation.”

This is the latest development in the sprawling federal corruption probe into the Mayor's 2021 campaign finances, which has so far resulted in FBI raiding the homes of the campaign's top fundraiser, the mayor's director of protocol for international affairs and the temporary seizure of Adams' phones and devices.

Öcal's home was also raided in November by federal agents as part of the probe.

FBI agents have also raided the homes of another top aid and two FDNY Chiefs in separate straw donor and bribery investigations.

According to reports, the broad investigation is examining a series of potential straw donors with ties to the Turkish government.

The investigation is also looking into whether his campaign kicked back benefits to a Brooklyn construction company and Turkish officials, reports state, and if Adams helped pressure city fire officials to greenlight a new consulate for the Turkish government in Manhattan despite worries about safety.

A 2021 report from the NY City News Service, a publication by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, examined campaign finance records to show how money flowed into his campaign coffers after taking paid-for visits to Turkey, Azerbaijan and China, where he also created sister-city agreements.