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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airline aircraft before learning that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft lacked power plants.

This strange incident was contained in a investigation released on Friday, which recounted how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two planned to use the planes to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

Those sources also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials confronting intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual clutching child during detention.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought independently. The plan has since been halted, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House funding panel said in October that during this season's record-long government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“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 aircraft to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the department.

A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but refused to offer further details.

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

In the autumn, it was revealed that the administration was transporting immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Leaked data examined from charter airline GlobalX outlined the travels of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the country before removal.