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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before learning that the airline did not truly possess the planes – and that the planes were missing engines.

This strange anecdote was detailed in a report published on Friday, which recounted how the official and a former political strategist had recently arranged to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair intended to use the planes to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also stated that ICE agents had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials confronting intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unconscious man clutching infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in the summer, did not possess the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been paused, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this season's record-long government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but declined to provide additional clarification.

Congress had previously approved the termed “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was reported that the government was transporting individuals detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their legal rights, often by plane.

Confidential information examined from private airline GlobalX detailed the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the country before removal.