Homeland Security Secretary Reportedly Approved Purchase of 10 Engineless Spirit Airlines Planes That Airline Didn't Own

The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before learning that the carrier did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the planes were missing engines.

This strange incident was detailed in a investigation published on the end of the week, which recounted how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the planes to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also claimed that ICE officials had cautioned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply increasing current charter agreements.

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

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn 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 middle of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the taxpayer 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 plane purchases were inaccurate but declined to provide further details.

Congress had earlier approved the so-called “major immigration bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border-related operations, a sum that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

In September, it was reported that the government was moving individuals held as part of its removal program in ways that breached their legal rights, often by air.

Confidential information examined from private airline Global Crossing detailed the travels of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before deportation.