Homeland Security Secretary Reportedly Authorized Acquisition of Ten Engine-Free Spirit Airline Aircraft That Carrier Didn't Own

The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the planes were missing engines.

This strange anecdote was detailed in a report released on the end of the week, which recounted how the official and a former campaign manager had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the two planned to use the planes to expand deportation flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also stated that ICE officials had cautioned them that buying planes 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 proceedings for the second time in August, did not own 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 October that during this fall's record-long federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“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 aircraft to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to offer additional clarification.

Congress had earlier authorized the termed “major immigration bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border security operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded federal agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the government was moving immigrants held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by air.

Confidential information reviewed from private airline GlobalX detailed the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.