Homeland Security Secretary Reportedly Authorized Acquisition of 10 Engineless Spirit Airline Aircraft Which Carrier Didn't Own

The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft lacked power plants.

This strange anecdote was contained in a report published on the end of the week, which described how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair intended to use the planes to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those insiders also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply expanding current charter agreements.

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Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in August, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be acquired independently. The proposal has since been paused, according to the report.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this fall's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream jets for $200m.

“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 Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the taxpayer 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 offer further details.

The legislature had previously approved the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration and border security operations, a sum that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

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

Confidential information reviewed from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the travels of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the nation before deportation.