DHS Head Allegedly Approved Acquisition of 10 Engineless Spirit Airline Aircraft Which Carrier Didn't Own
The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft lacked power plants.
This strange incident was contained in a report released on Friday, which recounted how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the planes to expand deportation flights – and for private use.
Those insiders also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply increasing existing flight contracts.
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Complicating matters further, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not own the jets and their engines would have had to be acquired separately. The plan has since been paused, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.
“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.
A department representative informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were incorrect but declined to provide further details.
The legislature had previously approved the termed “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.
In September, it was revealed that the administration was transporting immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.
Confidential information examined from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the country before deportation.