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

This bizarre incident was contained in a investigation published on Friday, which recounted how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the two planned to use the jets to increase removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also claimed that ICE agents had cautioned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

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Complicating matters further, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance 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, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in October that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to provide further details.

Congress had previously authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border security operations, a sum that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

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

Leaked data examined from charter airline GlobalX detailed the journeys of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the country before removal.