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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not actually own the aircraft – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This bizarre incident was contained in a investigation released on the end of the week, which described how the official and a ex- 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 private use.

Those sources also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply expanding current charter agreements.

ICE confronting intense criticism after video reportedly shows unresponsive individual clutching infant during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not own the jets and their engines would have had to be bought independently. The plan has since been paused, according to the investigation.

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

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the department.

A department representative told the Journal that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to provide additional clarification.

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

In September, it was revealed that the government was transporting immigrants detained 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 travels of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the country before removal.