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

This strange incident was detailed in a report released on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the two intended to use the jets to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

Those sources also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing current charter agreements.

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Making the situation more complex, the airline, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the department.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but refused to provide further details.

The legislature had earlier authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a amount that makes ICE the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was reported that the government was transporting individuals detained as part of its removal program in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Leaked data reviewed from charter airline GlobalX outlined the travels of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before deportation.