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The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airline aircraft before learning that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the planes lacked engines.

This strange anecdote was contained in a investigation published on the end of the week, which described how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet 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 warned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing current charter agreements.

Immigration officials facing fierce backlash after video apparently shows unresponsive individual holding child during detention.

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

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this fall'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 contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the taxpayer 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 plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to provide additional clarification.

Congress had previously approved the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border-related operations, a sum that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

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

Leaked data examined from charter airline GlobalX outlined the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the country before deportation.