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The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not actually own the aircraft – and that the aircraft lacked engines.

This bizarre anecdote was contained in a investigation released on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a former political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two intended to use the jets to increase removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also claimed that ICE agents had cautioned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

ICE facing intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual clutching infant during arrest.

Complicating matters further, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a expense to the public of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to provide additional clarification.

Congress had previously approved the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration and border-related operations, a sum that makes ICE the most heavily funded federal agency in the US government.

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

Leaked data reviewed from private airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before deportation.