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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airline aircraft before discovering that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This strange anecdote was contained in a investigation published on Friday, which described how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the pair planned to use the jets to increase removal flights – and for private use.

Those sources also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had cautioned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply increasing current charter agreements.

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Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in August, did not own the jets and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in October that during this season's record-long federal shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a single-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives 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 refused to offer further details.

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

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

Confidential information reviewed from private airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the country before deportation.