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The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This bizarre incident was detailed in a investigation released on Friday, which recounted how the official and a former political strategist had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the two intended to use the jets to increase removal flights – and for private use.

Those sources also stated that ICE officials had warned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

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

Complicating matters further, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in the summer, did not possess the jets and their power plants would have had to be acquired independently. The proposal has since been halted, according to the report.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a single-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A department representative told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to provide additional clarification.

The legislature had earlier authorized the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates 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 September, it was revealed that the administration was moving individuals detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Confidential information examined from private airline GlobalX outlined the travels of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before removal.