DHS Head Allegedly Authorized Purchase of 10 Engineless Spirit Airlines Planes Which Carrier Didn't Own

The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines aircraft before learning that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This strange incident was contained in a report released on Friday, which described how the secretary and a former campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

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Making the situation more complex, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in August, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be acquired independently. The proposal has since been paused, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this fall's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire 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 department.

A department representative informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but refused to provide additional clarification.

Congress had earlier authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration and border-related 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 moving immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.

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