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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before learning that the carrier did not actually own the aircraft – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This bizarre incident was detailed in a investigation published on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the pair planned to use the jets to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

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

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Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the jets and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The proposal has since been paused, according to the report.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this season's historically lengthy 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 midst of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate 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 department representative informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to provide further details.

The legislature had previously authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border security operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

In September, it was revealed that the administration was transporting individuals held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Confidential information reviewed from private airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the nation before removal.