UNDER A MAGNIFIER

Eric Adams Being Probed by FBI Over Free Upgrades on Turkish Airlines

The mayor is accused of flying in the best seats for free—an allegation revealed by a corruption probe into his office.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has found himself embroiled in yet another scandal, with a report from The New York Times revealing Friday that the FBI has evidence showing he received free upgrades on Turkish Airlines bumping him up to its most expensive seats. That allegation stems from an FBI investigation looking into whether Adams accepted bribes from Turkey and doled out favorable treatment in return—including potentially pressuring the New York City Fire Department to sign off on Turkey’s new high-rise consulate in Manhattan despite safety concerns. (The home of one of Adams’ top advisers, Cenk Öcal, was raided in connection to the probe back in November.) The alleged airline upgrades sheds new light on how the mayor may have collected bribes from the Turkish government, which owns half of Turkish Airlines. Öcal, the mayor’s liaison to the Turkish community, is a former executive at the airline, and the Times reported that federal investigators have evidence showing he arranged some of Adams’ upgrades. Beyond publicly sharing his love for Turkish Airlines, Adams has also attended meetings and events with representatives of the air carrier, the Times reported.