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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the airline did not truly possess the planes – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This strange incident was detailed in a investigation published on the end of the week, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair intended to use the jets to increase deportation flights – and for personal travel.

Those insiders also stated that ICE agents had warned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply expanding current charter agreements.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual clutching infant during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in August, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The proposal has since been halted, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this season's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a single-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the department.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were inaccurate but refused to provide further details.

Congress had earlier approved the so-called “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration and border security operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

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

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