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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering that the airline did not actually own the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This strange incident was contained in a report released on Friday, which described how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two planned to use the planes to expand removal flights – and for private use.

Those sources also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unconscious man clutching child during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in the summer, did not possess the jets and their engines would have had to be acquired independently. 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 season's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were inaccurate but declined to offer further details.

Congress had previously authorized the termed “major immigration bill” in the summer, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border-related operations, a sum that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded federal agency in the federal government.

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

Leaked data reviewed from private airline GlobalX detailed the travels of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the country before deportation.