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

This strange incident was contained in a investigation published on Friday, which recounted how the official and a former campaign manager had recently arranged to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the two planned to use the planes to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

Those sources also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply increasing current charter agreements.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after video apparently shows unresponsive individual holding infant during detention.

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

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A department representative informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to offer additional clarification.

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

In September, it was revealed that the government was moving immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

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