DHS Head Reportedly Approved Purchase of Ten Engine-Free Spirit Airline Aircraft Which Carrier Did Not Possess
The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the planes – and that the aircraft lacked engines.
This strange incident was contained in a report released on Friday, which described how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two planned to use the jets to increase removal flights – and for personal travel.
Those sources also claimed that ICE officials had cautioned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply expanding existing flight contracts.
ICE facing fierce backlash after footage reportedly shows unconscious man clutching infant during detention.
Complicating matters further, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in the summer, did not own the jets and their engines would have had to be acquired independently. The plan has since been paused, according to the report.
In the interim, Democrats on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this fall's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.
“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to support 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 department.
A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but refused to provide further details.
Congress had earlier authorized the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the US government.
In September, it was revealed that the government was transporting individuals detained as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.
Leaked data examined from charter airline GlobalX detailed the travels of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the country before removal.